ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team lost in heartbreaking fashion to Central Washington on Thursday night, taking their first loss to fall to 4-1 on the season. The No. 10 ranked Broncos were just one point away from claiming the match, before the Wildcats fired off seven consecutive points to take the decisive fifth set.
The Broncos had a plethora of notable performances in their first five-set match of the season, highlighted by the trio of Samantha Campion, Madison Novak, and Sarah Ybarra EACH collecting double-doubles. Campion led the team with 21 digs, just the fourth time in her career she has passed the 20-dig mark in a match, while also racking up 13 kills. The senior from Mission Viejo impressed with five service aces, three of which came in the same seven-point run, marking the third-most in a match in school history during the 25-point scoring format (since 2008).
Entering this season, Novak had only collected double-digit digs once – coming in the 2023 season opener. In 2024, she's already done so three times. Thursday's 17-kill, 14-dig performance was the first double-double of Novak's career. The reigning AVCA National Player of the Week, Sarah Ybarra, also contributed with 13 kills and 10 digs for her third career double-double.
Setter Caitie Mueller nearly set a new career high in assists with 54 in the match, falling just one short of tying her personal best of 55 – a mark that she set against Cal State Monterey Bay on September 9th, 2022. Mueller's 54 assists on Thursday are the fourth-most in a match in school history during the 25-point scoring format.
Sophomore Alexia Athans was lethal at the net, capturing a career-high 15 kills with a .545 attack percentage in 22 attempts. Athans currently leads the Broncos in attack percentage at .419 on the season, while her 22.0 total blocks also ranks first on the team. The Chino Hills native currently ranks third in the CCAA in both categories.
After winning the opening set 25-23, the Broncos fell in the second and third sets by scores of 20-25 and 23-25. Coming for vengeance in the fourth, CPP dominated the set with a 25-11 win, never allowing Central Washington to get more than two points in a row. Up 14-9 in the final set, the Broncos had all but claimed their fifth win of the season. However, Central Washington put together an incredible comeback, picking up seven consecutive points to claim their second win of the season.
Up Next
The Broncos are right back in action this afternoon with a match against Simon Fraser at 4:30 PM in Nicholson Arena. You can watch follow live stats or watch on YouTube.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are now 2-6 all-time against the Wildcats, including four straight losses dating back to 2012.
- Traci Dahl is now 81-36 (.692) as head coach of the Broncos.
- The Broncos are now 24-3 in non-conference matches since the start of the 2021 season.
- Avery Percival collected her 900th career dig on Thursday, now with 901 in her career. With 54 more, she will crack the CPP Top 10 list. Audrey Driscoll (2006-09) currently sits in 10th place with 954 in her career.
Latest All Athletics News
- Andriy Budnyy Joins CPP Men’s Soccer as Assistant CoachAndriy Budnyy joined the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer program earlier this month, it was announced by head coach Matt O'Sullivan. Budnyy comes to CPP after spending five years with nearby rival Azusa Pacific's men's soccer program.
- Tara Oper Named CCAA Player of the WeekTara Oper's first goal of the season was a huge one as she has been selected as the CCAA Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, for the week of Sept. 9-15.
- No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona Blanks Local Rival Azusa Pacific in Home Opener, 2-0POMONA, Calif. - The No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team scored early in each half and topped area foe Azusa Pacific University, 2-0, in its 2024 home opener Saturday night at Kellogg Stadium.
- Broncos Roll Over Warriors, 5-1, in First Road Match of Season to Remain Perfect at 4-0SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer team scored three first-half goals and routed Westmont College, 5-1, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Thorrington Field.
- No. 10 Volleyball’s Non-Conference Dominance Continues, Sweeps Western WashingtonCal Poly Pomona volleyball continued to dominate non-conference competition on Saturday, sweeping Western Washington to improve to 6-1 on the season. Since the start of the 2021 season, the Broncos are a staggering 26-3 in regular season non-conference matches, good for an .897 winning percentage in such games.
- No. 10 Broncos Sweep Simon FraserThe Broncos picked up their third sweep of the season on Friday night, defeating Simon Fraser 3-0 to improve to 5-1 to start the 2024 campaign. Cal Poly Pomona won each set in convincing fashion with set scores of 25-20, 25-16, and 25-15.