SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (1-5) fell twice on Friday in the Cougar Classic, dropping a four-set match to Westmont (5-1) before falling in three sets to Azusa Pacific (3-3).
 
MATCH 1: CSUSM 1 – Westmont 3 (25-19, 24-26, 20-25, 18-25).
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Jessica Thomas – 13 kills | 2 blocks
Alyssa Gurrola – 5 blocks | 3 kills
Gracie Zaitz – 42 assists | 11 digs | 1 ace
Jackie Phillips – 21 digs | 6 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars went up early at 5-2 and never trailed the remaining of the opening set to take a 25-19 win.
• The second set was a battle with nine ties and six lead changes as CSUSM waved off three set points before the Warriors evened the match at 1-1 with a 26-24 win.
• Once again, CSUSM took a quick early lead at 7-3 but the Warriors charged back to claim a 25-20 third-set victory to go up 2-1 in the match.
• In the fourth set, the Warriors got out of the gate quickly with five unanswered points and held a match-high 20-9 lead. The Cougars tried to put together a rally with a 9-3 run but a Westmont block sealed the deal for the Warriors at 25-18.
   

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM tallied 10 more kills than Westmont in the match (50-40).
• The Warriors outblocked the Cougars 15-10
• Gracie Zaitz tallied CSUSM's first double-double of the season with 42 assists and 11 digs.
   

 
MATCH 2: CSUSM 0 – APU 3 (16-25, 23-25, 22-25)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Addison Kranz – 14 kills | 1 block
Jessica Thomas – 12 kills | 2 digs
Gracie Zaitz – 37 assists | 14 digs
Gracie Beilby – 20 digs | 3 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM found itself in the hole at 8-1 to APU and played catch up the entire first set before falling 25-16.
• The second set was a different story entirely as CSUSM got out to a 13-10 lead and battled until the very end, falling 25-23 as APU took a 2-0 lead in the match.
• The third set was a repeat of the second set with both teams battling back and forth before Azusa completed the sweep with a 25-22 victory.  
   

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM is now 1-1 when playing in The Sports Center against APU.
• San Marcos tallied 47 kills to APU's 39 in the match.
• Azusa registered seven blocks and six aces to CSUSM's three blocks and two aces.
• Gracie Zaitz notched CSUSM's second double-double of the season with 37 assists and 14 digs
   

UP NEXT
CSUSM will wrap up the Cougar Classic tomorrow at 5 p.m. against Western Oregon in the tournament finale.