Behind a match-high 20 kills from junior outside hitter Maia Dvoracek and a season-high .411 hitting percentage collectively, the Cal Poly volleyball team picked up its third straight sweep Tuesday night at Mott Athletics Center with a win over CSUN (25-19, 25-18, 25-15).
With the win, the Mustangs (16-6, 9-1 BW) improve their nation’s longest home winning streak to 29 matches and remain tied for first in the Big West standings with UC Santa Barbara, also 9-1. It is also the ninth consecutive win over the Matadors (8-13, 3-6 BW).
Dvoracek’s 20 kills came on a .532 hitting percentage to go along with four digs and three service aces. Senior outside hitters Nikki Jackson and Jessica McRoskey both added eight kills apiece. Sophomore middle blocker Meredith Phillips finished with six kills and a team-high three blocks. Sophomore setter Avalon DeNecochea dished out a match-high 35 assists while defensively Cal Poly was paced by senior libero Mika Dickson who finished with a match-high 16 digs.
The first set was tight for the majority of it as there were 11 ties and four lead changes. Tied at 17, the Mustangs rattled off four straight points to take a 21-17 lead. They never relinquished it from there, finishing the set on a 4-2 run to take it 25-19. As a team, Cal Poly hit a whopping .519 in the set.
The Mustangs got out to a 6-3 lead to start the second set before CSUN came back and cut the lead to one at 10-9 and later tied it at 12. Tied at 13, Cal Poly used a 6-1 run to go ahead 19-14. The Matadors cut it to three at 19-16 before the Mustangs pulled away with a 6-2 run to win the set 25-18.
Cal Poly came out firing on all cylinders to begin the third set. They quickly jumped out ahead 11-5 and led the rest of the way. CSUN cut the lead to five at 18-13 before the Mustangs ran away with it for good, finishing the set on a 7-2 run to complete the sweep 25-15.
Cal Poly now prepares for a pivotal match at No. 21 Hawai’i this Sunday in Honolulu at 7 p.m. PT. The Rainbow Wahine are currently in third in the Big West at 8-2 and will face UCSB Friday night before taking on the Mustangs Sunday. Cal Poly swept Hawai’i earlier this month at Mott Athletics Center.
-Provided by Cal Poly
