By Christopher Pimentel Jr., October 27, 2026
The No. 14 nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss to No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino Oct. 17.
The Broncos went down 2-0 in sets, losing 25-20 in the first and 26-24 in the second. They took the third set 25-22 but conceded the fourth set 27-25.
Although the match ended in a loss, the Broncos led in digs (63), while trailing in both kills (57) and assists (53).
Right-side hitter Sarah Ybarra and setter Paige Bowyer led the offensive charge. Ybarra earning 24 kills and 18 digs, while Bowyer conducted the floor with 49 assists, one shy from the 50-assists club, last achieved by Kacie Caoili who earned 55 against Cal State East Bay last season.
However, the Broncos also led the match with 24 attack errors, two of which sealed the loss in the fourth set. Head coach Traci Dahl recognized these mistakes and emphasized if the program wants to continue to play at a championship level, the team must perform in the big moments.
“We had an opportunity in that fourth set,” Dahl said. “We were up two. Then, we make some weird mistakes, two mistakes in a row, and you can’t do that when the scores are tight. When it’s neck-and-neck, you don’t have to play perfect, but you can’t be so error prone.”
Although attack errors will be the focal point of upcoming practices, according to Dahl, it was ultimately the Broncos’ inefficient offense, which hit an average of .143 compared to their season average (.252), that surrendered the first two sets.
The first set started slow for the Broncos, allowing CSUSB to build a 6-1 lead to start the set, which extended to a 14-6 lead for the Coyotes moving into the second half of the set.
According to Bowyer, CPP slowly started to recognize the hitting patterns and angles of the Coyotes, bringing the set within five at 22-17. However, their effort was too late, as CSUSB closed the set with two kills and a setting error by Bowyer to win it 25-20.
Despite a tough end to the first set, Bowyer mentioned her low stress levels going into her first ranked matchup as a starter. She credited the veteran’s presence and established leaders for helping her develop a sense of comfort alongside her teammates on the court.
“It’s really easy with a lot of seniors on the court and a lot of good leaders already there,” Bowyer said. “Even if I am feeling a little high-stress, I have people be like, ‘Hey, deep breath right here. Reset.’ So, it is really easy to feel calm under all the pressure.”
The composure of the team was immediately put to the test in a close second set that showed why both teams are ranked among the top 15 programs in the nation.
The Coyotes carried their momentum into the second set with a 4-0 lead, though the Broncos answered back with their own scoring run to bring the set to 6-all. From this point on, a new trend of constant ties and lead changes engulfed the rest of the match.
The rest of the set continued to be a tight battle between the two, as described by Dahl, with neither team pulling ahead by more than a two-point lead. In the final moments of the match, when the Coyotes were up 24-22, the Broncos came back to bring it to extra points but ultimately conceded the set 26-24.
With the Broncos on the brink of a sweep, they needed to earn the third set to keep their comeback hopes alive. Ybarra said the Broncos had to change their mentality to ensure they approached each set with confidence.
“We started out a little bit slow,” Ybarra said. “We all try to get each other fired up, and in that first set, it didn’t really happen for us. So, when we came out for the second set, we’re like, ‘We have to change this mentality.’”
CPP started on the right hoof earning the third set 25-22 with an improved four errors committed and a .325-hitting percentage, though it wasn’t easy, with 18 total tie scores and five lead changes.
Although the lead was never fully secured in the fourth set, there were more points given away to CSUSB from the Broncos, committing seven errors to the Coyotes’ one. As a result, CPP’s hitting percentage dropped to .256, even though the team led the set in kills (18).
“It really was a good match,” Dahl said. “It would be better if it was 1-1-1-1, but to be down two, it shows a lot of grit on our end.”
The Broncos’ national ranking held at No. 14 following this game’s loss and their win two days earlier against Cal State San Marcos. CPP also faced San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay sweeping both matches at the San Francisco Federal Credit Union Gymnasium.
The Broncos will end its season with four California Collegiate Athletic Association matchups, including an end of season matchup against No. 1 in conference Fresno Pacific.
“We know we’re a good team,” Dahl said. “Again, we just got to do certain things differently.”
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
