By Gavin Claiborne, Oct. 22, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball players Samantha Campion and Caitie Mueller earned California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week awards to help the team extend its 10-game win streak after two sweeps over Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.
In the first game against CSUEB, the No. 6-ranked Broncos held the Pioneers below 20 points in all three sets (25-18, 25-16 and 25-20).
Sophomore right-side hitter Sarah Ybarra led the Broncos offensively with 10 kills, and outside hitters Campion and Charlotte Koerber collected eight kills respectively.
Senior setter Mueller registered her sixth career double-double performance with 10 digs and 23 assists, leading the team to a .214 hitting percentage to the Pioneers’ .096.
Middle blocker Helen McMullin contributed on the defensive end with a career-high three solo blocks and one block assist. McMullin ranks second on the team in total blocks and 10th in the CCAA.
Although the Broncos started the match slow on offense, head coach Traci Dahl said once the team got into their rhythm, it was only a matter of time until they took over the match.
“I think in the last couple of matches, it’s taken us a minute to get our rhythm on the court, but once we find that passing rhythm and serving rhythm, everything seems to fall in place,” Dahl said.
The Broncos defeated CSUMB in three straight sets to extend their 10-game win streak, marking the fourth-consecutive season the Broncos accomplished the feat.
Dahl said the team’s win streak wasn’t a specific goal, but rather a result of her student-athletes focusing on executing the proper decisions.
“We don’t ever talk about being undefeated or a record per say,” Dahl said. “I think that they’re just taking it one game at a time, and the fact that we are undefeated is just a testament to their hard work on the court.”
Mueller recorded a total of 36 assists in the match, averaging 9.83 assists per set on the weekend to receive her eighth-career CCAA Setter of the Week award and her third this season.
“I think that every year (Caitie’s) leadership has just grown with the team, and I think this year, it’s just stellar,” said Dahl. “Between her and Sammy, I think they’ve put the team on their backs, and it’s been really nice for us coaches.”
Campion led the charge for the Broncos with a match-high 16 digs and 12 kills on an efficient .290 hitting percentage.
Campion collected a total of 32 digs on the weekend to average 5.33 digs per set and 34 receptions with no errors to earn her second career CCAA Defensive Player of the Week award.
“This season, I’m focused on helping my team win, and whatever that takes I am willing to do,” Campion said. “As a six-rotation outside hitter, I can impact the game on both sides of the ball. Even if I’m having an off night offensively, I know I can contribute in the backrow defensively and give my teammates the opportunity to score.”
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Landen Allison-Bullock registered double-digits kills with 10 at a .261 hitting percentage in her first full game as a Bronco.
Dahl said Allison-Bullock adds to the team’s depth at the outside hitter position. With a lot of talented attackers, she trusts each student-athlete can go into the game and contribute to the team’s success.
“I just came in with the mentality of just going after it and not being afraid to make mistakes,” Allison-Bullock said. “I told myself to be confident in what I was doing. It was a really good feeling to perform that well in my first real game, and it hasn’t compared to any other feeling.”
The Broncos remain in first place in the CCAA standings as the only undefeated team with an 8-0 conference record and 14-1 overall record.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
