DENVER – The No. 6 CSUSB Yotes fell in a pair of competitive top-25 matches at the Colorado Premier Challenge on Friday, including a top-10 matchup with No. 1 Concordia St. Paul.
In the first match against No. 25 Rockhurst, the Yotes dominated set one, 25-12, and could have taken set two before falling 27-25 in that one. They came back and got set three 25-23, but could not close it out losing 25-22 and 15-13.
Statistically, the Yotes had four more errors, but had more kills, 64-57, and a higher hitting percentage, .222-.196.
Alexis Cardoza had 14 kills and
Melissa Garciglia had 12.
Lydia Morohunfola and
Jalyn Hayes led the team from the middle with 10 and 11 kills respectively, with two blocks each.
Marlee Nunley had 50 assists and five players had 10 or more digs, led by 13 from Cardoza.
Asia Clarke added 12 kills and 10 digs.
"This was a tough loss to a very good Rockhurst team. Our middles played very well and Marley Nunley continues to evolve into a more complete, elite level setter with each passing match," head coach
Kim Cherniss said. "However, we're going to have to be a little more terminal in transition If we want to beat top-25 teams like Rockhurst."
Against No. 1 Concordia St. Paul the Yotes fell in three, but it was 25-20 in set one and 25-23 in set three. The Yotes hit .246 but Concordia hit .330 and out-blocked the Yotes 11-5.
"Despite a fairly efficient offensive performance by us, we were unable to slow down Concordia St Paul's potent attack," Cherniss said. "We are definitely being reminded why this is the best tournament in the country. We are really learning some valuable lessons about what we need to do to be better."
Individually, Cardoza hit .289 with 17 kills and Garciglia added 10 kills. Clarke and Hayes had six kills each and Morohunfola had five. Cardoza and
Makena Overbey had 10 digs each.
The Yotes will continue in the tournament tomorrow and their opponent will be determined by tonight's results. Their opponent and live links will be updated on CSUSBAthletics.com.
