Cal Poly Sweeps UC Riverside for First Big West Win

The Cal Poly volleyball team trailed UC Riverside just twice Saturday evening in recording both its initial Big West Conference victory of the season and ninth-consecutive win against the Highlanders with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-20 whitewash inside Mott Gym.

Cal Poly (5-10, 1-1), which improved to 39-8 in Mott Gym and recorded the program’s 25th home sweep under fifth-year head coach Jon Stevenson, received a team-high eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage from junior middle blocker Dominique Olowolafe. Six separate Mustangs recorded an ace and a further four tallied a solo block for Cal Poly, which utilized the victory to erase only the second sub.-500 Big West winning percentage during Stevenson’s tenure.

Two of freshman opposite Holly Franks’ three kills allowed the Mustangs to establish an 8-3 lead to open the match. The Highlanders (1-10, 0-2), held to a .125 hitting percentage during game No. 1, failed to close to within three points of the Mustang advantage in succumbing.

Cal Poly never led set No. 2 by more than three points, but managed to hold the advantage for the game’s entirety. Trailing, 20-17, UC Riverside claimed six of the next nine points to deadlock the game at 23-23. A serving error by Highlanders senior libero Amanda Nilsson, coupled with an ace from Mustang freshman setter Anuhea Keanini, however, swung the set in Cal Poly’s favor.

UC Riverside opened a 7-3 lead to begin the third set before a 12-7 run by the Mustangs helped Cal Poly regain its match-winning advantage.

Keanini finished with a match-best 25 assists while junior libero Alison Mort contributed 16 digs.

Cal Poly opens a four-match road trip at Cal State Fullerton Friday, Oct. 2. Match time in Titan Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Mustangs next play home Friday, Oct. 16 against UC Davis at 7 p.m.