Erik Chu
[follow id = “CPMustangSports”]
The Cal Poly volleyball team (6-7, 1-2 Big West) earned its first Big West Conference victory of 2014 with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19 victory against UC Riverside (2-13, 0-3) Saturday evening, ending a three-match losing streak.
Freshman outside hitter Raeann Greisen recorded a team-leading 18 kills and freshman middle blocker Caihla Petiprin chipped in 11 kills for the Mustangs.
Cal Poly was able to win the match through excellent defense, holding the Highlanders to a measly .171 hitting percentage throughout the match.
The climax of the match came in the third set. Trailing 22-20, the Mustangs were fortunate to witness three successive UC Riverside hitting errors, allowing them to take the set and lead the match two sets to one.
Greisen closed the match in an emphatic fashion, hammering a kill to the ground and secruing the victory for the Mustangs.
“It’s a step forward because it’s a conference victory,” head coach Sam Crosson said. “It’s good to see a positive outcome for all the work that they do, but at the same time, we have to get better.”
Cal Poly continues its Big West schedule when it goes on the road to face Cal State Fullerton on Friday.