ARCATA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (3-10, 1-5 CCAA) collected its first CCAA win of 2024 with a four-set victory (25-23, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22) at Cal Poly Humboldt (6-8, 2-4 CCAA) on Saturday afternoon. 
 
CSUSM 3 – HUMBOLDT 1 (25-23, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Danielle McCasland – 16 kills | 12 digs
Addison Kranz – 13 kills | .333 clip | 3 blocks
Alyssa Gurrola – 6 kills | .429 clip | 5 blocks
Gracie Zaitz – 47 assists | 15 digs | 1 ace

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 18-13 to the Lumberjacks, the Cougars rallied back to even the game at 18-all and finally took the lead at 22-21 on a solo block by Jessica Thomas. CSUSM went on to win the opening set 25-23. 
• Behind a .357 hitting percentage and holding Humboldt to a .057 clip, the Cougars dominated the second set to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-16 win.
• Both teams battled it out in the third set that featured 15 tie scores and seven lead changes, with the Lumberjacks taking it at 25-21.
• Down 5-1, the Cougars came back to take a 10-8 lead and forced a Lumberjack timeout. Humboldt evened the game at 22-all before CSUSM rattled off three consecutive points on two McCasland kills and a kill by Thomas.
   

QUICK HITS

• The Cougars are 9-2 in the all-time series against Humboldt and are 4-1 when playing at Lumberjack Arena.
• Danielle McCasland tallied as season-best 16 kills en route to her second consecutive double-double with 12 digs.
• CSUSM matched a season best in digs with 80 with the previous feat coming in a five-set match against San Francisco State.

 
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH ANDREA LEONARD
"This team broke through today. Humboldt is a very competitive team and for us to win on the road is huge.
We have come so close in previous matches and we have told the team to keep working hard and focus on our internal wins. They deserved this victory!"
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars return home for a three-match homestand starting on Friday, Oct. 11 against Cal State Monterey Bay at 5 p.m.