By Jacob Rodriguez, Nov. 12, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball team earned the highest national ranking in program history and recorded the best start in program history after two sweeps over Sonoma State and Cal Poly Humboldt Nov. 3.
The Broncos received a No. 4 ranking in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 polls and improved to 20-1 on the season, marking the best start in program history through 21 games.
In the first game against Sonoma State, the Broncos held the Seawolves below 20 points in all three sets 25-11, 25-18 and 25-15.
The previous meeting between these two teams was Oct. 5, which marked the last time the Broncos lost a set this season. The Broncos won that game 3-1.
Outside hitters Samantha Campion and Sarah Ybarra recorded double-double performances.
Campion had 12 kills and led the team in digs with 17, while Ybarra had 14 kills and 14 digs.
“Every time this team takes the court, they just continue to amaze me,” said head coach Traci Dahl. “It’s not just the pretty things that you’re seeing like the bump set spike. It’s the run-down balls and coverage balls that are just impressing me even more. It’s things that maybe the naked eye is not looking for, but it’s difficult to score on the Broncos right now.”
CPP dominated the Seawolves early, taking the first two sets 25-11 and 25-18. The two teams traded points early in the third set for an even score 3-3.
A service error by Seawolves outside hitter Brooklyn Jackson sparked a 10-point scoring run for the Broncos, led by the trio of Campion, Ybarra and sophomore outside hitter Charlotte Koerber for a 13-3 advantage.
The Seawolves responded with a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to five points to result in a timeout by the Broncos.
“A lot of our timeouts are just giving us a breath,” said Campion. “She (Dahl) has a lot of confidence in us, and we have a lot of confidence in each other and the work that we’ve done this far into the season.”
Ybarra collected three kills in the final 10 points to help the Broncos outscore the Seawolves 10-5 and secure the 3-0 victory at home. The Broncos extended their 15-game winning streak while improving to 19-1 overall and 13-0 in CCAA play.
In the second matchup against Cal Poly Humboldt, the Broncos made program history in the second inaugural Cal Poly Clash.
The last meeting between the Broncos and the Lumberjacks favored the Broncos 3-1 Oct. 3.
“We went to Humboldt earlier in the season, and they tested us,” said Dahl. “I thought today we looked like a different Bronco team.”
CPP registered 14 kills with five errors to record a .300 attack percentage in the first set to Cal Poly Humboldt’s -0.037, taking the one set advantage 25-13.
The two teams traded points early into the second set, but neither was able to exceed a one-point lead as CPP held a 9-8 advantage.
Ybarra opened the scoring for the Broncos behind a kill from the middle of the court, followed by three service aces from Campion that gave the Broncos a 15-8 lead.
The Broncos closed out the second set by a narrow margin 25-19.
The two teams continued to go back and forth early to start the third set, before the Lumberjacks found their rhythm for a 5-3 lead. Sophomore middle blocker Alexia Athans responded with a kill and block to tie things up at five-a-piece.
Athans finished with six kills on eight attempts for a .750 attack percentage, along with two blocks. Athans currently ranks third in the CCAA with a .341 hitting percentage on the season.
“I feel like our team is very good at adjusting,” said Athans. “To adjust quickly is a big part of being an athlete on the court and off, and if you’re able to do it in a game, that’s going to help with success.”
The Broncos built off the one-point advantage at 18-17 behind three kills by Campion for a 21-18 lead. Campion shined against the Lumberjacks, leading the team with 11 kills on an efficient .310 hitting percentage, along with 15 digs to record her seventh straight double-double.
Senior setter Caitie Mueller sealed the victory for CPP behind a five-point service run, ultimately closing out the match with her third service ace of the match.
Mueller also finished with 33 assists to mark her seventh consecutive match with 30 or more assists.
With the team’s second win over Cal Poly Humboldt this season, the Broncos earned the first point for the sport of women’s volleyball in the Cal Poly Clash.
CPP currently leads the rivalry 5-0 after victories by men and women’s soccer and men and women’s cross-country.
The Broncos’ 3-0 victory also marked their eighth consecutive sweep and tied the program’s best for most sweeps in a season with 15.
Since the start of CCAA play, the Broncos have outscored opponents 42-3 in sets won since
Sept. 20 and extended their win streak to 16 games, signifying the second-longest winning streak in the program’s history.
CPP remains undefeated in conference play with a 14-0 CCAA record and a 20-1 overall record, marking the best start in the program’s history through 21 games.
“It’s a testament to what we have on the court, and the players are invested,” said Dahl. “From the beginning of the season, we knew where we wanted to go, and we knew it would take a lot to get there.”
The Broncos will host No. 22-ranked Cal State LA Nov. 8 and Cal State Dominguez Hills Nov. 9 at Kellogg Arena.
Featured image courtesy of Will G MacNeil
