SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (4-15, 2-10 CCAA) will begin its final homestand of 2024 this week, hosting Cal Poly Humboldt (7-13, 3-9 CCAA) on Friday at 5 p.m. before welcoming Sonoma State (9-9, 6-6 CCAA) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
LAST WEEK
- CSUSM dropped two five-set heartbreakers last weekend on the road.
- At Chico State on Friday, the Cougars jumped out and took the opening set at 25-10 but eventually fell in five sets by scores of 20-25, 25-22, 21-25 and 13-15.
- CSUSM lost its second consecutive match (25-21, 22-25, 29-27, 13-25, 6-15) the next day at Stanislaus State.
BY THE NUMBERS
- CSUSM is averaging 1.88 blocks per set, ranking sixth in the CCAA.
- The Cougars' 1,106 total digs and 141 total blocks are the fifth most in the conference.
- Jackie Phillips ranks third in the CCAA in digs per set with 3.76.
MATCH 20 | CAL POLY HUMBOLDT | |
Date | Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 |
Time | 5 p.m. |
Location | San Marcos, Calif. |
Venue | The Sports Center |
Records | CSUSM (4-15, 2-10 CCAA) HUM (7-13, 3-9 CCAA) |
Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
Live Video | FloVolleyball ($) |
Tickets | HomeTown |
FRIDAY NIGHT AGAINST THE JACKS
- The Cougars are on a nine-match win streak against the Lumberjacks while holding a 9-2 lead in the all-time series.
- CSUSM recorded a four-set victory in Arcata on Oct. 5 with the final scores being 25-23, 25-16, 21-25 and 25-22.
- In that match, the Cougars held the Jacks to a .150 attack percentage, the lowest against a CCAA opponent this season.
- Since defeating then-No. 24 Cal State San Bernardino on Oct. 10, Humboldt has gone on a five-match skid with losses to San Francisco State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State East Bay and a pair to Sonoma State.
- The Lumberjacks are tied for 10th place in the CCAA standings with a one-game lead on CSUSM.
- Humboldt has the worst hitting percentage in the CCAA at .156 while being the conference leader in total digs (1,172) and total attacks (2,774).
- Awelina Fakalata ranks fourth in the CCAA in kills per set (4.15) and sixth in total aces (31).
- Chico State is last in the conference rankings in kills (11.14) and assists (10.23) per set.
- The Lumberjacks were picked to finish 10th in the 2024 CCAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll.
MATCH 21 | SONOMA STATE | |
Date | Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 |
Time | 1 p.m. |
Location | San Marcos, Calif. |
Venue | The Sports Center |
Records | CSUSM (4-15, 2-10 CCAA) SSU (9-9, 6-6 CCAA) |
Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
Live Video | FloVolleyball ($) |
Tickets | HomeTown |
SATURDAY MATINEE AGAINST SSU
- Prior to facing CSUSM on Saturday, the Seawolves will face No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona at 5 p.m. on Friday.
- CSUSM and SSU are tied in the all-time series at 5-5.
- The Cougars are 4-2 when facing the Seawolves in The Sports Center.
- Earlier this season, SSU snagged a four-set victory (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23) over the Cougars in Rohnert Park.
- Entering the weekend, the Seawolves are in sixth place in the CCAA standings with a one-game lead over seventh-place Chico State and Cal State East Bay.
- SSU has won three of its last four matches, including a series sweep over its travel partner Cal Poly Humboldt and a four-set victory at Cal State Monterey Bay. The Seawolves' loss came at Cal State East Bay last weekend, a four-match decision.
- The Seawolves are ranked fourth in the CCAA in kills per set (12.39) and opponent hitting percentage (0.177).
- Senior setter Brynna Slayton is second in the CCAA in aces per set (0.53) and third in total aces (35).
- Senior middle blocker Emily Hernandez is third in the CCAA with a .300 hitting percentage.
- SSU was selected to finish sixth in the 2024 CCAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll.
LOOK INSIDE THE COUGARS
- The 2024 CSUSM roster consists of nine players competing in their final collegiate season with five being four-year members of the Cougar family – Mya Galvan, Alyssa Gurrola, Kelli Miechowicz, Jackie Phillips and Jessica Thomas.
- Two new Cougars will only play one season for CSUSM – Danielle McCasland, a graduate transfer from Concordia University Irvine, and Gracie Zaitz.
- Five others are donning Cougar Blue for the first time with three being true freshmen and two junior college transfers.
- The Cougars finished their 2023 campaign with a 12-15 overall record, were 10-8 in CCAA play and returned to the CCAA Tournament for the program's fifth appearance.
- As a team in the CCAA statistics, CSUSM concluded 2023 ranked seventh in blocks per set (1.93) while holding opponents to 1.74, the third lowest in the conference.
- In the 2024 CCAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, the Cougars were picked to finish seventh.
THE LEONARD FILE
- Head coach Andrea Leonard enters her 14th season in charge of the Cougar volleyball team, a program she has built from the ground up since arriving on campus in 2010.
- Leonard has a 212-172 (.552) record as CSUSM's head coach.
- In 20 seasons as a collegiate head volleyball coach, Leonard holds a 304-298 (.505) career record.
- Leonard was CSUSM's first-ever CCAA Coach of the Year after guiding the Cougars to a third-place finish in the overall standings during the 2017 season.