SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team earned its most thrilling victory of 2015 by taking a 15–13 fifth set from Cal State San Marcos. Friday night, the Cougars turned the table on the Otters, rallying from two sets down to earns a 25–27, 15–25, 25–16, 25–19, 15–11 win in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB (7–5, 2–3 CCAA) got 19 kills from Anela Visesio (Seaside HS) and 13 more from Amber Tygart (Yucaipa HS). Both missed their career highs by one kill. Whitney Hirst (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) set a season–high 48 assists while Ashlynne Armstrong (Norco HS) led all back row players with 23 digs.

 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… San Marcos freshman Madi Newcombe punished an Otter overpass to break an 11–11 tie in the fifth set. Newcombe added kills on the next two points to seal the win.

A WIN DIDN'T EQUAL A WIN… The Otters lost a match in which they won a set for the first time this season (7–1).

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Anela Visesio 19.5.; KILLS: Anela Visesio 19, Amber Tygart 13; ACES: Kyra Galloway, Maddy Underwood 2; BLOCKS: Chndler McKean 5, Samantha Brennan 4; DIGS: Ashlynne Armstrong 23.

NET EFFECT… The Otters continued their season–long dominance, but just barely, by matching San Marcos with 9.0 blocks Friday night. They've now equaled or out–blocked their opponents in 15 of 16 matches dating back to last season.

GOING THE DISTANCE… The Otters lost for the first time this season when going the full five sets (3–1). CSUMB is 5–2 under Head Coach Moe Melhart in 5–set matches..

THE LAST WORD… We knew it was going to be a battle tonight against a tough, gritty San Marcos team and we didn't compete for the full five sets. They beat us in Set 3 and we beat ourselves at the end of four and five. We need to respond better tomorrow night and continue to generate points from both Amber Tygart and Anela Visesio." — CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters close their 4–match homestand by hosting CCAA South Division leader UC San Diego Saturday night at 7 p.m.