7-10, 2-5
Long Beach State
16-4, 6-0
Cal Poly Drops Four-Set Decision to Big West Leader Long Beach State
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore middle blocker Taylor Gruenewald recorded a match-leading 12 kills and freshman outside hitter Raeann Greisen added 11, but the Cal Poly volleyball program – after claiming the opening set from Big West Conference leader Long Beach State on Saturday evening – dropped the remaining three games and a 26-28, 25-22, 25-15, 25-20 decision inside Mott Athletics Center.
Freshman setter Taylor Nelson added a match-best 41 assists and junior libero Nicole Kessler chipped in with 19 digs for the Mustangs (7-10, 2-5), who held Long Beach State (16-4, 6-0) to a .155 hitting mark, but hit just .055 themselves.
During an opening set that featured 15 tied scorelines and in which neither program led by more than three points, Cal Poly received kills from freshmen middle blockers Savannah Niemen and Caihla Petiprin and Greisen to even an 18-15 disadvantage. Still tied at 23-23, Cal Poly then sustained three Long Beach State set points before another Petiprin kill re-knotted the game at 26-26. Two Long Beach State hitting errors later and Cal Poly owned the set victory.
Trailing early in set No. 2, 4-3, Long Beach State recovered to record six of next seven points. Still trailing at 19-13, Cal Poly received two Gruenewald kills and an ace from Nelson to close to within 20-18. The 49ers, however, claimed three of the next four points to outdistance Cal Poly.
Backed by a .333 hitting mark, Long Beach State then jumped out to a 16-5 lead in set No. 3 and led the game wire-to-wire.
Cal Poly led just once more the remainder of the night after claiming the opening two points of set No. 4. Long Beach State, however, ripped off a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead. Still trailing 21-16, Cal Poly saw Gruenewald tally two kills either side of a Nelson ace to close to within two points, but Long Beach State ended the match with a 4-1 run.
Cal Poly opens a three-match road trip when visiting Hawai'i on Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. PT.
