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.