MOE MELHART POSTGAME

SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay played one of its better matches of the season, but visiting Sonoma State won the key rallies it needed to pull at a 25–23, 25–23, 24–26, 25–18 victory Saturday night in The Kelp Bed. CSUMB fell to 9–6 overall and 3–4 in the CCAA while Sonoma improved to 14–4 and 8–1.

CSUMB got another standout effort from senior rightside hitter Amber Tygart (Yucaipa HS), who matched her career high with 17 kills while adding four blocks Anela Visesio (Seaside HS added 11 kills and Smanatha Brennan (Huntington Beach HS) finnished an error–free weekend with nine kills and no erros in 15 swings.

The first three sets could have gone either way. All three were tied at 11–11 and neither team led by more than the 2–point final margin from that point in both. The fourth set saw Sonoma jump to a 10–4 lead, however, and, although the Otters closed to within 11–8, the Seawolves eased away down the stretch to secure the match.
 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Three Otter errors keyed a 5–1 spurt that gave Sonoma at 17–10 lead in the fourth. CSUMB wouldn't pull closer than five points for the balance of the match.

A SWING AND A HIT… Samantha Brennan was near flawless in three matches during the week. She didn't make a single error in 41 swings, finishing with a hitting line of 22–0–41 (.537). The impressive week raised her attack percentage to a gaudy .337 for the year.

BLOCK PARTY WEEKEND… With seven block assists over the weekend, Amber Tygart moved into the CSUMB Top 10 for career block assists with 128. She is tied for No. 9 all–time with Elizabeth Hanna (2008–09). Next up is Julia Ashen (2011–14) in eighth with 129.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Amber Tygart 19.0; KILLS: Amber Tygart 17; BLOCKS: Samantha Brennan/Amber Tygart 4; ACES: Maddy Underwood 3; DIGS: Maddy Underwood 17.

THE LAST WORD… "It was like a heavyweight boxing match a lot of the time…but we knew it was going to be that way and we prepared for it. Overall, I was very pleased with how we performed and we need to carry it over into this week" – CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters take to the road for their next three matches, beginning with a midweek match at Humboldt State on Tuesday (Oct. 10). first serve is set for 7 p.m.