SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team gave fans their money's worth opening weekend, going the distance three times in four matches at the Otter Invitational Friday and Saturday in The Kelp Bed.

The final score finished CSUMB's way just once. That came in a 20–25, 24–26, 25–22, 25–15, 15–10 win over Dominican University in the season opener on Friday. They also went five in Saturday matches against Lincoln Memorial University and Westminster University.

Seattle Pacific, the only undefeated team in tournament play at the Invitational, handed the Otters a 4-set loss in Friday's late match.

Despite the scores, for a CSUMB squad that features just one senior amongst its 20 members, the results were more about growth and becoming comfortable as a unit. Seven of the 15 Otters who saw the floor were making their debutante collegiate appearances.

Freshman outside hitter Zoe Haan (Phoenix/Sunnyslope HS) led the newcomers, earning all-tournament honors while reaching double figures in all four matches to finish with a team-high 69. She scored a team-high 77 points, collected 30 digs and finished second on the team with six aces.

Other leaders over the weekend included freshman middle blocker Talula Crandell (Loomis/Del Oro HS) with 10 blocks and freshman setter Piper Olson (Vacaville/Vanden HS) with 114 assists and seven aces.

CSUMB def. DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY 3–2 (20–25, 24–26, 25–22, 25–15, 15–10)
The Penguins took the first set going away, rallied late to win the second set, then watched as the Otters roared back from 20–15 down in the third to earn the reverse sweep. Zoe Haan made the biggest splash in her collegiate debut, putting down a match-high 24 kills. Freshman setter Piper Olson passed 35 assists and served four aces. Mia Dilley (15) and Malia Peterson (11) reached double figures in digs.

SEATTLE PACIFIC def. CSUMB 3–1 (25–17, 25–11, 23–25, 25–18)
Seattle Pacific hit over .300 in the first two sets en route to its second of four wins at the Invitational. Zoe Haan completed her first collegiate double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL def. CSUMB 3–2 (25–18, 20–25, 25–18, 24–26, 15–12)
The first-ever meeting between the Otters and Railsplitters went back and forth until a pair of Laney Inman kills broke a 9–9 tie in the fifth set. The teams traded sideouts over the final seven points, allowing LMU to hang on. Zoe Haan (16), Malia Peterson (14) and Malia Thorne (10) all reached double-figure kills for the Otters.

WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY def. CSUMB 3–2 (24–26, 25–22, 22–25, 25–17, 15–12)
Another see-saw affair saw the visiting Griffins score eight of the final 10 points to rally from behind in the fifth to steal the win. Zoe Haan had another big attacking game with a match-high 18 kills. Rowan Reilly and Abby Witzansky also reached double figures with 11 kills apiece. Freshman middle Talula Crandell made a splash with a team-high four blocks.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude preconference tournament play with a trip to Orange County for the Vanguard/Biola Tournament Sept. 12–13. CSUMB will play at new NCAA Division II member Vanguard in Costa Mesa on Friday before heading inland to face Azusa Pacific and Biola University Saturday in La Mirada.

GO OTTERS!

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