ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (1-2) earned its first win of the season in commanding fashion Friday morning, sweeping Minot State (0-1) in straight sets (29-27, 25-19, 25-20) before falling to host Alaska Anchorage (6-0) in a five-set nightcap (25-21, 17-25, 32-30, 17-25, 12-15) at the Alaska Airlines Center on the second day of the Seawolf Invitational.
MATCH 1: CSUSM 3 – MINOT STATE 0 (29-27, 25-19, 25-20)
TOP PERFORMERS
Izabella Santa Cruz – 5 kills | .625 clip | 28 assists | 7 digs | 3 aces
Addison Kranz – 10 kills | .259 clip | 2 digs | 1 ace
Makalin Goehring – 9 kills | 1 block | 2 digs
Eleanor Brislen – 11 kills | 3 aces
Blayne Seligmiller – 2 kills | 2 blocks | 1 ace
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM trailed 15-9 before mounting a 6-0 run to tie the set at 15-all. After falling behind again at 24-22, the Cougars fought off two set points and claimed the first set 29-27 on a Brislen ace.
- Down 5-2 early, CSUSM responded with a 10-4 run to take a 12-9 lead. Brislen and Kranz combined for three kills during a late 6-2 stretch that sealed the set and give CSUSM a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 win.
- The Cougars used a 7-2 run midway through the set to break a 13-13 tie. Santa Cruz delivered three consecutive aces during the surge and CSUSM held off a late push to close out the match at 25-20 for the sweep.
QUICK HITS
- Cal State San Marcos improved to 1-1 on the season.
- Minot State fell to 0-1 in its season opener.
- CSUSM led in kills (54-48), digs (46-40), and blocks (7.0-6.0).
- This was the first-ever meeting between CSUSM and Minot State.
MATCH 2: CSUSM 2 – UAA 3 (25-21, 17-25, 32-30, 17-25, 12-15)
TOP PERFORMERS
Addison Kranz – 19 kills | .250 hitting | 5 digs
Blayne Seligmiller – 10 kills | 3 blocks | 2 aces
Eleanor Brislen – 14 kills | 6 digs
Nelia Trower – 9 kills | 2 blocks
Izabella Santa Cruz – 28 assists | 9 digs
Annika Blas-Cedeno – 23 digs | 3 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars used a 6-1 run late in the set to erase a 17-14 deficit, capped by a Brislen kill and a Blas-Cedeno ace to take the opener.
- Alaska Anchorage jumped out to a 7-3 lead behind two service aces and never trailed. CSUSM closed within four at 21-17 before UAA finished on a 4-0 run.
- In a marathon set with 10 tie scores and 5 lead changes, CSUSM overcame a 24-21 deficit, tying it at 24-all and eventually winning on a Kranz kill and an Ebony Lewis finish.
- UAA broke a 5-5 tie with a 6-2 run and maintained control. CSUSM pulled within 22-17 before the Seawolves closed the set with three straight points.
- The Cougars fell behind 6-1 early but rallied to make it 12-11. UAA responded with a 3-1 finish to seal the match.
QUICK HITS
- Cal State San Marcos drops to 1-2 on the season.
- Alaska Anchorage improves to 6-0.
- CSUSM posted 10 team blocks to UAA's 8.0.
- The Cougars finished with 87 digs and 14 service aces.
- CSUSM hit .250 in Set 4 and .235 in Set 3, their most efficient sets.
- The match featured 21 tie scores and 10 lead changes.
Up Next
CSUSM concludes its Seawolf Invitational slate on Saturday, Sept. 6, with a matchup against Biola at 12:30 p.m.
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