The No. 24 Cal Poly volleyball team (10-7, 4-1) bounced back from a loss at Pacific to beat Cal State Fullerton for the 19th straight contest in a Friday night 30-23, 30-27, 30-17 sweep.
This was the Mustangs 21st victory out of 24 home matches since 2005 as well as the 24th win out of their last 28 Big West games.
The 1,575 spectators watched the Mustangs hit .327, their third highest average in 2007, in their sixth straight sweep of a Big West opponent at Mott Gym.
“When we play offense like that, it’s hard to lose,” said head coach Jon Stevenson.
In game No. 1, the previously 2-0 Titans did not appear to be the only undefeated team left in the Big West as they had several service and hitting errors.
“We watched a lot of film on them and we were ready for their offense,” outside hitter Kylie Atherstone said. She said the team had amazing practices before the game following their loss to Pacific last week.
The Mustangs capitalized on all Titan errors as they leaped out to an early 4-0 lead and then upheld a comfortable cushion for the rest of the contest.
Atherstone hit .636 in game No. 1, resulting in seven kills. Four other Cal Poly players contributed three kills to the first game. The Mustangs hit .471 overall in game No. 1.
Atherstone fueled the fire again in game No. 2 with seven more kills, including the last two points of the game. The Titans kept game No. 2 much more interesting with six lead changes and 14 ties throughout the contest although they came up three points too short.
Game No. 3 came and went with much ease for the Mustangs after they opened with a 10-3 run and they hit .394 for the game.
“We’re feeling it at home,” Atherstone said. She said the familiar court along with the band and growing fan base helps the team out tremendously.
Atherstone hit a game-high 19 kills while outside hitter Ali Waller and middle blockers Dominique Olowolafe and Jaclyn Houston each had nine. Libero Kristen Jackson and defensive specialist Alison Mort each had 11 digs and setter Chelsea Hayes had 46 assists.
Outside hitter Jennifer Francisco and middle blocker Alex Wolnisty each hit nine kills for the Titans.
Atherstone said she could not have done what she did without the amazing passing and setting she received from her teammates.
“It’s like she’s punishing the ball every time she hits it,” Stevenson said of Atherstone.
When asked why Atherstone remains such a threat on the court, Stevenson said that each player on his team poses a problem to defenses and that, were a team to give special defensive attention to one player, they would feel the repercussions from others.
The Mustangs set out on a four-game road trip beginning at rival UC Santa Barbara on Thurs. Oct. 11.
“We’re stoked. We want to beat them,” Atherstone said.
Stevenson said that a goal for his team is to keep their hitting errors at 12 or below. In Friday’s match, they hit 19. He said to go anywhere in tournament play, they would have to get down to 11 total errors per match.
Of the upcoming match on Thursday, Stevenson said, “Santa Barbara is a big match, always, it’s a rivalry.”