Cal State Fullerton heads to the Lobo Classic hosted by the University of New Mexico this weekend to face the host Lobos, Santa Clara and SMU. It will be the first of three straight road tournaments for the Titans after opening the season at Titan Gym this past weekend.
FOLLOW THE TITANS:
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), Instagram (@FullertonTitans), and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the volleyball team has established its own official Twitter page (@FullertonVB).
CATCH ALL THE ACTION:
Television: None
Streaming Video: Titans fans can catch a live video stream the Cal State Fullerton match with New Mexico on Saturday afternoon courtesy of the Mountain West Network. The link can be found on FullertonTitans.com.
Audio Webcast: None
Live Stats: Live in-game stats for all four matches at the Lobo Classic will be available. Links at FullertonTitans.com
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 VS. SMU (JOHNSON CENTER), 4 P.M.
Cal State Fullerton vs. SMU
Series Record: Cal State Fullerton leads 2-0
First Meeting: Won, Sept. 17, 2005, 22-30, 30-21, 30-26, 30-28
Last Meeting: Won, Aug. 25, 2012, 31-29, 25-21, 25-17
Current Streak: Won 2
Last 10 Meetings: 2-0
SMU NOTES:
-Morgan Heise was named Defensive Player of the Week in the American Athletic Conference after recording 80 digs in 11 sets, and Avery Acker tallied 136 assists on opening weekend, needing just 25 to reach 3,000 in her career. Opening weekend saw a balanced offensive attack for the Mustangs, with three players scoring at least 27 kills, including senior captain Abbey Bybel, who led the team with 36.
-The Mustangs won a program-best 26 matches last season, including a record 15 at home. An SMU-record 11-match win streak highlighted the season. A 3-2 victory over then-No. 24 Oklahoma, the program's first over an AVCA Top-25 team, propelled the Mustangs into the AVCA poll for the first time in school history, receiving votes for three weeks.
-Over the last five seasons, SMU is 99-58 overall and 64-30 in conference matches, including a 29-9 record in two seasons in the American Athletic Conference. Three players have combined for five All-America Honorable Mention awards, and a Mustang has earned a conference Player of the Year award for their position each of the past two seasons.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 5 AT NEW MEXICO (JOHNSON CENTER), NOON
Cal State Fullerton at New Mexico
Series Record: New Mexico leads 2-1
First Meeting: Lost, Nov. 21, 1989, 4-15, 8-15, 12-15
Last Meeting: Lost, Sept. 11, 2009, 19-25, 17-25, 22-25
Current Streak: Lost 1
Last 10 Meetings: 1-2
NEW MEXICO NOTES:
The Lobos come into this week's action having won two of their first three matches to start the 2015 season. They defeated Belmont in three to start the season and then scored a four-set win over Albany before dropping a five-set match to Ball State. New Mexico is led by Simonie Henderson, who recorded a team-high 38 kills in 12 sets over the weekend, averaging 3.17 per set. Hannah Johnson dished out 109 assists (9.91 per set) to serve the Lobos to a .256 attacking percentage through three matches. Devanne Sours (34 kills) and Cassie House (32 kills) were also key contributors for the offense while Julia Warren (41 digs) and Mercedes Pacheco (39 digs) paced the defense.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 5 VS. SANTA CLARA (JOHNSON CENTER), 4 P.M.
Cal State Fullerton vs. Santa Clara
Series Record: Tied, 9-9
First Meeting: Won, Sept. 24, 1980, 9-15, 15-13, 15-6, 15-13
Last Meeting: Lost, Sept. 15, 2013, 25-11, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 9-15
Current Streak: Lost 2
Last 10 Meetings: 2-8
SANTA CLARA NOTES:
Santa Clara swept all three matches it played at the Santa Clara Tournament last weekend (Friday, Aug. 28/Saturday, Aug. 29):
The Broncos defeated Weber State 25-20, 25-21, 26-24 Friday night in their first home-opening match since 2004. Kirsten Mead (38 assists, 11 digs) and Nikki Hess (18 kills, 11 digs) each started the new campaign with double-doubles.
Santa Clara delivered its second sweep in as many matches when it defeated Rutgers 25-21, 25-13, 25-19 Saturday morning. The Broncos built up at least an eight-point lead in all three sets to improve to 2-0 on the young season. They led the entire way in the first two sets and trailed for only three points of the final set, while never facing a deficit greater than one point.
The Broncos overcame a late first-set deficit and closed out the second set with a 6-0 run en route to defeating UC Riverside 25-23, 25-18, 25-14 Saturday night. The Broncos were the only team in the SCU/San Jose State Tournament and the only team in the West Coast Conference to go undefeated on opening weekend without dropping a set.
Hess, a 2015 preseason All-WCC selection, hit .337 and posted 47 kills for a 5.22 kills/set average alongside 26 digs — she averaged just under 16 kills/match. Mead, also a 2015 preseason All-WCC selection, notched 105 assists and set the Broncos to a .302 hitting percentage in their first three contests. Danielle Rottman tops the Broncos with 43 digs and Jensen Cunningham leads the team with 12 total blocks.
Head coach Jon Wallace is in his 17th season with the Broncos. He enters the weekend with a 311-168 career head coaching record (.649 winning percentage).
LEADERS THROUGH WEEK ONE:
Following the first three matches, freshman Summer Kerins leads the Titans with 26 kills and a 2.60 kills per set average. She recorded half of those when she hammered down 13 kills in the Titans near-upset against Alabama on Saturday. Fifth-year senior Kandace Thomas tallied 24 kills in 11 sets played (2.18 per set).
Mackenzie Olsen dished out 93 assists in the first three matches and her 8.45 helpers per set rank fifth in the conference after the first weekend.
SMITH'S SOLID DEBUT:
Freshman Kyra Smith had a solid opening weekend as she led the team with 11 blocks (5 solo) She tallied seven blocks (3 solo) in the Titans five-set thriller against Alabama. Along with the great presence at the net, Smith also ranked third on the team with 19 kills and is currently second on the Titans with a .256 attacking percentage.
