Can Cal Poly handle being the hunted and not the hunter in Big West volleyball?
Can a freshman setter replace one of the Mustangs’ all-time greats at that position?
The answers can be summed up in four words: So far, so good.
And good is the optimum word for No. 15 Cal Poly, which has proven that it can win on the road as well as at home over the first four-plus weeks of the season. The Mustangs have shaken off a 3-1 loss at current No. 9 Pitt — their second match of the year — as well as shed a two-setter system in favor of a traditional 5-1, believing in the on-the-job training for true freshman Avalon DeNecochea.
“There definitely was some uncertainty going into this year, definitely some question marks,” Cal Poly coach Sam Crosson said. “After losing Taylor (all-conference setter Nelson) to graduation, the unknown was how offensive could we be.
“Some of our questions have been pleasantly answered.”
The Mustangs (11-1) have done it while traveling the country with tournaments at Pitt, Utah State and North Texas while waiting for school to start. Cal Poly did sneak in two home matches Sept. 6-7, hosting then-No. 9 UCLA, in a rematch of last year’s NCAA second-round match won by the Bruins in Los Angeles.
The Mustangs raised their first Big West title banner in 10 years then raised the hopes of the Central Coast when defeating UCLA in four the first night, their first win over the Bruins since 1985, and first over a top-10 team since 2007. A night later, junior hitter Torrey Van Winden, who played for UCLA as a freshman, had 26 kills including the match-ender as the Mustangs won in four.
“I don’t know if we thought of it as a rematch, it’s a different season, different teams,” Crosson said. “That first night was good for us psychologically, a mental breakthrough. The second validated that the first night was not a fluke.
“It was good for this group, helped us take a big step forward. I think we can be better than last year and I think they’re starting to understand that more.”
How does Crosson see the Big West looking down from the top? His Mustangs were successful in their opener Tuesday, sweeping UC Davis to run their home winning streak to 14 dating back to Nov. 11, 2016.
“Watching some of the results around the league, I am of the belief that anyone can beat anyone on any given night,” Crosson said. “Is it easier to put as as a favorite? Sure, but I know for a fact that Hawaii is going to be a tough team to beat.
“I think this is by far the most wide-open race in terms of top to the middle in my (seven) seasons here. It’s no longer Hawaii and then everyone else playing for second. UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and Long Beach have played some good sets. You’ve got to imagine that this year is going to be exciting.”
There’s parity in the Big West. But does that mean quality parity?
There’s nine weeks to find out.
BIG WEST CAPSULES
1. Cal Poly (11-1, 1-0)
Despite losing all-conference setter Taylor Nelson (second in all-time assists with 4,277), the Mustangs have picked up where they left off, a year that saw them finish with the program’s best record (27-3), a 16-0 conference mark and an undefeated home season for the first time since 2007. Tuesday’s sweep of UC Davis was their 10th win in a row; their lone loss came in the season-opening tournament at current No. 9 Pitt (11-0), falling to the Panthers in four when running a 6-2 offense. They have been in a 5-1 since that road trip.
Back are four All-Big West players in seniors Adlee Van Winden, an outside hitter, and libero Katherine Brouker, junior hitter Torrey Van Winden and sophomore middle Madilyn Mercer. The biggest surprise has been 6-foot-2 freshman setter Avalon DeNecochea.
On Tuesday, Cal Poly set the program record for most consecutive home wins at 14 dating back to Nov. 11, 2016, and gave coach Sam Crosson his 100th victory in San Luis Obispo. Van Winden, named conference player of the week for a second straight week on Monday, had her fourth double-double (14 kills-16 digs). She came into the week seventh nationally in kills per set (4.93) and 17th in points (223).
2. Hawaii (4-5, 0-0)
The Rainbow Wahine enter conference play with a losing record for the first time since 1993 when they opened 2-3. The only other time came in the injury-plagued preceding year when Hawaii started off 1-3 and finished 15-12, missing the postseason for the lone time in program history.
Head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos continues to tweak the lineup, going with a modified 6-2 offense where junior Norene Iosia sets and then moves to outside hitter when senior Faith Ma’afala is in the back row.
Three middles have shared playing time with junior Natasha Burns and senior Sarah Liva getting the majority of reps; the two rank first and third in the conference in hitting percentage, Burns at .378 and Liva at .360.
Senior libero Tita Akiu has had double-digit digs in every match and is No. 2 in the Big West in dig average (5.00 dps). Despite not reaching double-digit kills in two of the past three matches, senior hitter McKenna Granato is No. 7 with 115 kills and 3.48 kps.
Iosia is No. 4 nationally in triple-doubles with her second coming in Friday’s five-set loss to Oregon.
3. UC Irvine (7-6, 1-0)
The Anteaters won their fourth straight Tuesday with a 3-1 win at UC Santa Barbara. UCI returns three All-Big West first-teamers, including senior opposite Harlee Kekauoha, who already ranks in the program’s top 10 in kills (1,129) and aces (136).
All-conference hitter Haley DeSales, moving to libero, has been in double-digit digs in every match including a career-high 25 against the Gauchos.
Last season, UCI tied the 2009 school record for most wins when finishing 24-8, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, its first postseason appearance since 2004.
Freshman hitter Abby Marjama, 14th nationally in aces (61), had one on Tuesday.
Coming off a redshirt season is 6-3 sophomore Loryn Carter, the team’s kill leader who had nine against UCSB.
4: Long Beach State (9-5, 1-0)
The 49ers won their third straight when sweeping UC Riverside at the Pyramid on Tuesday.
The Beach leads the conference in blocks (130) and aces (84), adding to the totals against UCR with 11 stuffs and four aces.
Junior hitter Hailey Harward, a libero last season, heads the league in aces (51).
Hitter Allison Martinez, the reigning freshman of the week, had a career-high 12 kills against Fresno State, hitting .733. She had eight kills and hit .412 against UCR.
The 49ers are young at two key positions with freshmen at setter (Carly Aigner-Swesey) and libero (Carly Hill). Aigner-Swesey, whose twin sister Sawyer is a defensive specialist at UCLA, is sharing time with sophomore Mina Andjelkovic, one of four foreign nationals on the roster.
5. UC Santa Barbara (8-5, 0-1)
The Gauchos continue to live and die by the arm of junior hitter Lindsey Ruddins, No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in conference in kill average (5.58). The 2017 NCAA kill leader had 23 on Tuesday against UCI; she has had 26 kills or more five times this season.
Senior libero Emilia Petrachi had 25 digs against the Anteaters to give her 1,644 for her career, No. 2 in the UCSB record book.
The eight wins matches UCSB’s total for last season where the Gauchos were 8-20 overall, 7-9 in the Big West.
Olivia Lovenberg, one of three true freshmen setters in the Big West, leads the conference in assists (11.38 per set) with 569.
6. UC Davis (8-4, 0-1)
The Aggies ran into the Mustang buzzsaw Tuesday when getting swept at the Mott Athletic Center. Senior Malia Bolko, the conference leader in digs (5.38 per set) did not play.
Senior hitter Emily Allen came in averaging 4.09 kills per set but had just six on Tuesday. Junior Ally Reyes, the reigning defensive player of the week, had 43 digs in last week’s two matches when she moved from defensive specialist; she had 10 digs Tuesday.
7. Cal State Northridge (5-8, 1-0)
It’s been a see-saw season so far for the Matadors, who opened with a 3-2 victory over Arizona but have found sporadic success since. Knocking off Cal State Fullerton Tuesday 3-0 ended a three-match losing streak in what was just the third home match for CSUN.
Senior hitter Aeryn Owens ranked fourth in the league in kills coming into the week (4.13 kills per set) and had 15 Tuesday against the Titans.
The Matadors are running a 6-2 and have tried four different setters, including junior Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker (Kamehameha-Hawaii), who has played sparingly the past three matches. Senior libero Kristey Markle had 13 digs against Fullerton, her ninth match in double-figure digs.
8. UC Riverside (5-7, 0-1)
The Highlanders won four of their first five but have dropped six of their last seven, including Tuesday at Long Beach State. Senior hitter Kaiulani Ahuna (Kamehameha-Hawaii) has been a highlight reel for UCR but had just three kills before leaving the match with an injury and the score tied at 8-8 in Set 1.
Ahuna ranks right behind UCSB’s Ruddins in kills nationally (fourth) and in conference (second), and ranks first in the country in attacks per set (14.33). She reset her own program record last Friday with 34 kills in a five-set win over Idaho. The transfer from Eastern Washington was named the AVCA National Player of the Week on Aug. 28.
Keeping the Highlanders competitive is their defense, which ranks second in the Big West (17.22 dps). Sophomore libero Nicole Rodriguez, averaging 4.0 dps, had 17 against the 49ers.
9. Cal State Fullerton (6-7, 0-1)
The Titans strung together six straight sweeps — the six wins equaling the program best since 2013 — but have since lost six in a row, including being swept at Cal State Northridge. Fullerton has had only five home matches (2-3).
Senior hitter Madeline Schneider has been a bright spot, with 158 kills and 3.95 kps that put her sixth in the league coming into the week; she had just five against the Matadors. Senior Summer Kerins has 11 aces in 33 sets and freshman libero Neena Dimas has kept the Titans competitive with 148 digs.
