NAMPA, Id. — A successful season–opening trip to Idaho ended on a flat note as the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team fell to Dixie State 25–22, 25–19, 25–17 to close play at the Fairfield Inn Invitational Saturday at the Johnson Sports Center.

The first two sets could have gone either way before a pair of late Dixie State bursts gave the Trailblazers the final edge. The Otters then yielded an early 9–3 lead to Dixie in the third set and couldn't find a way to completely close the gap before running out of time.
 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Dixie jumped to a 9–3 lead to open the third set. The Otters never pulled closer than three points over the balance of the match.

ALL–TOURNAMENT TIME… A hat tip to Jenna Tobin and Anela Visesio for being named to the Fairfield Inn Invitational All–Tournament team. Tobin finished the 3–match event with 24 kills, a team–high 35 digs and five aces. Visesio led the Otters with 35 kills to go along with seven blocks and five aces.

NOT A BAD WAY TO START… Despite dropping Saturday's match, the Otters start the season 2–1 on the road for the first time since the 2003 campaign—when they were still competing at the NAIA level.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB… The Fairfield Inn Invitational gave several Otters their first taste off collegiate volleyball. Freshman Alexa Blunt got her feet wet Friday afternoon. Saturday saw freshman setter Sophia Torres and College of the Sequoias transfer Payton Trimm get their NCAA Volleyball baptisms.

ON THE BLOCKS… With three block assists Saturday, Chandler McKean moved past Brittany Etchings (134) into the No. 8 spot on the Otter career list with 135. She needs seven more to pass Jessica Malcolm (2012–15) for seventh place.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Chandler McKean 6.5; KILLS: Chandler McKean/Anela Visesio 5; BLOCKS: Chandler McKean 3; ACES: Erica Chapa/Alá Olson 2; DIGS: Jenna Tobin 14.

THE LAST WORD… "We can't win games when we don't come to compete. I was really disappointed in our attitudes today. We have a lot to work to do before we get back on the court next week." — CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters continue preconference tournament action at the West Region Crossover next Friday and Saturday (Aug. 31–Sept. 1) in San Rafael. CSUMB opens tournament play Friday versus the University of Alaska (1 p.m.) and Concordia–Portland (5:30 p.m.).