SEASIDE, Calif. — A promising opening stanza becoming something even more impressive as the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team concluded play at the Spring Hill Suites Otter Classic by sweeping CCAA rival Cal Poly Pomona (25–23, 25–22, 25–18) and No. 20 ranked Metro State (25–20, 25–20, 25–19) Saturday in The Kelp Bed. The Otters finished tournament play 3–1 overall.

CSUMB rallied from a 20–13 deficit in Set 2 versus Cal Poly en route to the win. That set up an early signature victory versus Metro State as CSUMB pulled away late in the first and third sets en route to its first win over a nationally–ranked opponent since 2011 (read more below).

Senior Maddy Underwood (Spokane, Wash./Mead HS) collected 20 kills against just two errors Saturday, adding her second double–double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs in the win over Pomona. Junior setter Erica Chapa (San Benito HS/Gavilan College) added 59 total aces on the day as well as a CSUMB record–tying six aces in the win over Metro State. Both players earned spots on the all–tournament team for their efforts.
 

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THE CAL POLY POMONA MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Maddy Underwood's kill on set point capped a set–ending 12–2 run to gave the Otters a 2–0 lead in the match. CSUMB never trailed in closing out the third set.

THE METRO STATE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… a Maddy Underwood kill sparked a 6–1 run that ended the third set and the match.

ALL–TOURNAMENT TIME… Erica Chapa and Maddy Underwood each earned spots on the Spring Hills Suites Otter Classic All–Tournament team. Joining the Otter duo were Kendra Bodine, Hailey Cooke and Madi Farrell of Northwest Nazarene; Santaisha Sturges of Metro State; and Kayla Chapman of Dixie State. Farrell was selected tournament MVP.

GIANT KILLERS… CSUMB's 25–20, 25–20, 25–19 win over Metro State Saturday night was its first win over a nationally–ranked team since it took down No. 16 UC San Diego 25–19, 31–29, 21–25, 25–21 on Oct. 7, 2011.

SHE'S ACES… With six aces in the win over Metro State, Erica Chapa tied the Otter record for aces in a match. The mark had been reached four times previously, although Chapa and Dionna Lucas (vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 25, 2010) are the only ones to do it in a 3–set match.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT (vs. CAL POLY POMONA)… KILLS: Maddy Underwood 12. BLOCKS: Chandler McKean 2. ACES: Kyra Galloway 3. DIGS: Ashlynne Armstrong 18.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT (vs. METRO STATE)… KILLS: Anela Visesio 16. BLOCKS: Samantha Brennan, Erica Chapa 3. ACES: Erica Chapa 6 (CSUMB record). DIGS: Ashlynne Armstrong 11.

THE LAST WORD… "One of the things we wanted to do this weekend was finding time for all of our players to feel the pressure of a real game. What a great opportunity to do that at home. It takes a little bit of the pressure off with friends and family in the stands." – CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… CSUMB heads to The City for the West Region Crossover Tournament at San Francisco State Sept. 7–9. The Otters will open tournament play against Hawaii–Hilo on Sept. 7 at noon.