SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team continued its strong start to the season with a pair of sweeps to open play at the West Region Crossover Tournament Friday afternoon in the Conlan Center. The Otters began the day with a 25–20, 25–16, 25–18 win over the University of Alaska before taking out Concordia–Portland 25–11, 25–19, 26–24.

CSUMB (4–1 overall) earned its first two sweeps of the season with Friday's wins. 

The leftside hitting tandem of senior Anela Visesio (Seaside HS) and sophomore Jenna Tobin (Modesto/Gregori HS) did the bulk of the offensive damage for the Otters, combining for 20 kills against Alaska and 28 kills against Concordia. Visesio's 12 were the match–high in the opener and Tobin's 18 led all attackers in the second match.

Senior libero Ashlynne Armstrong (Norco HS) anchored the backline with 39 digs, including 26 in the win over Concordia.
 

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THE ALASKA MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… A Chandler McKean kill capped an 8–2 spurt that put the Otters up 16–9 in the third set. CSUMB kept the Nanooks at arm's length for the balance of the match.

THE CONCORDIA MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… the Otters converted on their third consecutive match point opportunity when Erica Chapa earned a kill in transition for the 26–24 third–set victory.

DIG THIS… Ashlynne Armstrong's 26 digs in the win over Concordia rank No. 3 in the CSUMB record book for digs in a 3–set match. In case you're wondering, Rachel Cookus set the record with 28 digs in a sweep at San Francisco State on Nov. 7, 2015.

AND DIG THIS, TOO… Led by Ashlynne Armstrong's big game, the Otters collected 74 digs as a team in the win over Concordia. That mark ranks No. 2 in the CSUMB team record book for digs in a 3–set match and No. 1 against NCAA Division II competition. The CSUMB record is 82 digs set against UC Santa Cruz on Sept. 12, 2007.

THE 700 CLUB… With 22 total kills Friday, Anela Visesio became the eighth player in CSUMB history to reach 700 career kills. She also passed Maddy Underwood (702) for No. 7 on the CSUMB career kills list with 720 and counting.

LEADERS OF THE PACK… POINTS: Jenna Tobin 28.0; KILLS: Jenna Tobin 27; BLOCKS: Samantha Brennan/Erica Chapa/Chandler McKean 5; ACES: Ashlynne Armstrong/Alá Olson 3; DIGS: Ashlynne Armstrong 39.

THE LAST WORD… "I loved our response today coming off of a tough road trip last weekend. The maturity of our team to work hard this week and refocus on the MB way paid off today with our ability to control both matches fairly well. I'm really impressed with the selflessness of this team and their continued belief in what we are doing and it shows." — Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude play at the West Region Crossover Saturday with matches against Dominican University (1 p.m.) and Point Loma University (7:45 p.m.).