CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004 CPP Record: 4-5. 2004 CCAA Record: 0-0

 

Broncos Begin Conference Play With Tough Two-Game Swing: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s volleyball team, coming off a long and frustrating week, will go from the frying pan into the fire with a pair of tough road matches to begin California Collegiate Athletic Association play. The Broncos will face perennial powers Cal State L.A. on Friday and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. To make things even tougher on the Broncos, Cal State Bakersfield will play Cal State Dominguez Hills, which is Cal Poly Pomona’s travel partner this year in the revamped CCAA, on Wednesday instead of Friday, giving the Roadrunners extra rest for the Saturday match. The Broncos are trying to build upon two consecutive winning seasons. Cal Poly Pomona concluded its 2003 season with an overall record of 19-11. The Broncos were also 14-8 in the CCAA and finished in sole possession of fourth place. Coupled with a 20-11 record in 2002, the Broncos have won 39 matches over the last two seasons, which equals the best two-year win total since the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Those teams also won 39 matches in two years. Cal Poly Pomona came within one victory of recording back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1992 and 1993 seasons. The Broncos have won 18 or more matches in four of the last five seasons.

 

Last Week: The Broncos were unable to sustain the momentum they had generated when they won three of four matches in the season-opening Alaska Fairbanks’ Midnight Sun Invitational. Cal Poly Pomona dropped a non-conference match to Seattle Pacific on Wednesday and then lost three of their four matches in the 2004 Holiday Inn Select Diamond Bar/Cal Poly Pomona Invitational. Counting their final match in Alaska and their first four matches at home last week, the Broncos were involved in five consecutive five-game matches. Cal Poly Pomona started its lengthy week on Wednesday with a disappointing defeat to Seattle Pacific, which rallied for a 17-30, 28-30, 30-27, 30-19, 15-13 win over the Broncos. Allison Anderson (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) had 20 kills and five blocks to lead the Broncos, while Kellie Francis (Jr., Chino, Don Lugo HS) had 18 kills. Breezie Jordan (Jr., Ventura, Buena HS) and Kiting Kolar (Fr., La Canada, La Canada HS) both had 19 digs each. Emily Kennedy (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) had 48 assists. The Broncos then opened their own tournament on Friday with a pair of frustrating five-game losses. Cal Poly Pomona couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead and watched as Indianapolis rallied for a 19-30, 26-30, 30-26, 30-26, 15-11 victory in Darlene May Gym. Anderson had 23 kills and three blocks for the Broncos, while Francis had 21 kills. Christina Gordon (Jr., Moreno Valley, Riverside CC) had 13 kills, two aces and two blocks, while Antoinette Kathol (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Salle HS) had a team-high seven blocks, including four solos. The Broncos came back later in the evening and watched another team, this time Seattle University, pull out a 26-30, 30-24, 30-28, 27-30, 17-15 win. Anderson had 21 kills, 10 digs and five blocks. Kathol had 14 blocks to lead the Broncos. Gordon had 15 kills and four blocks. Elizabeth Defoort (Jr., Glendora, Citrus College) had 10 kills and four blocks. Cal Poly Pomona returned on Saturday and this time came out on the positive side of a five-game match, pulling out a 30-28, 22-30, 21-30, 30-24, 15-6 win over Western New Mexico. Francis had a career-high 26 kills, while Anderson and Gordon had 15 kills each. Kennedy had 45 assists, while Jen Bullock (Sr., Anaheim, Eastern New Mexico) had 20 assists. Mallory Manzo (Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had seven kills and 15 digs. The Broncos’ final match of the tourney was a quick one, but that wasn’t a good thing. Chaminade swept the Broncos, 30-26, 30-27, 30-24.

Anderson had 14 kills.

 

Tournament Wrap: The 2004 Holiday Inn Select Diamond Bar/Cal Poly Pomona Invitational was one of the most competitive tournament around. Out of 12 matches contested Friday and Saturday, a staggering seven went five games before being decided. Two gyms – Darlene May Gym and Kellogg Gym – were used in the tourney and of the eight matches played in Darlene May Gym, seven went five games. Cal State L.A. and Chaminade both had 3-1 records in the tourney, Indianapolis and Western New Mexico were 2-2 and Cal Poly Pomona and Seattle University were 1-3. Cal State L.A.’s Tiare Tuitama was the tourney Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Cal Poly Pomona’s Allison Anderson (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS), Kalae Araujo of Chaminade, Shawn McAllister of Indianapolis, Lizzy Safranski of Seattle University and Liz Narkon of Western New Mexico.

 

Scouting The Opposition: Cal Poly Pomona is 26-27 all-time against Cal State L.A. and swept the Golden Eagles last season for the first time since 1996. The Broncos are currently riding a three-game winning streak against Cal State L.A. The Golden Eagles won three of their four matches in the 2004 Holiday Inn Select Diamond Bar/Cal Poly Pomona Invitational and will carry a 6-3 record into Friday’s match. Cal Poly Pomona is 17-33 all-time against Cal State Bakersfield and were swept by the Roadrunners last season. Cal State Bakersfield, which is 4-1 entering its Wednesday rescheduled match with Cal State Dominguez Hills, qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs last season and lost in the first round to Hawaii Pacific.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rankings: Cal Poly Pomona did not receive any votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s most recent national Top-25 poll. Two members of the California Collegiate Athletic Assocition (UC San Diego in second and Cal State San Bernardino in sixth) were included in the national Top-10, while Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State L.A. received votes, but were not in the top-25. Four Pacific Region teams were included in the top-25 and eight received votes in the poll. In a preseason poll of CCAA coaches, the Broncos were picked to finish fifth in the conference behind UC San Diego, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State L.A. and Cal State Bakersfield.

 

How About That Schedule: Cal Poly Pomona will once again face a very challenging schedule in 2004. Cal Poly Pomona will face each California Collegiate Athletic Association team twice in 2004 and UC San Diego (2nd) and Cal State San Bernardino (6th) are included in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association’s national Top-25 poll. The CCAA flexed its muscles in the first week of competition. UC San Diego went 4-0, while Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State L.A. went 3-1 in a tournament in La Jolla. Cal State Bakersfield was 4-0 in a tourney at Cal State Monterey Bay, including a win over BYU-Hawaii.

 

On The Bench: Rosie Wegrich, who holds the Cal Poly Pomona standard for most wins by a head coach, will begin her 13th season with the program. Wegrich has compiled a 553-412-10 record in 29 years as a head coach and is one of the most successful Division II coaches in the nation. Before coming to Cal Poly Pomona, Wegrich coached at Division I programs at Minnesota and Arizona. She has a 224-153 mark  at Cal Poly Pomona and picked up her 200th win as Bronco head coach in a thrilling five-game victory over Cal State L.A. on Nov. 15, 2002. Wegrich also picked up her 500th career win when the Broncos posted a four-game win over Grand Canyon in the final match of the 2000 season.

 

Look Who’s Back: The Broncos have seven players and four starters returning in 2004. Allison Anderson (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) led the team in kills with 442, which is ninth on the all-time single-season list. She also led the team in blocks with 110. Anderson received All-America honorable mention by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, was named to the 10-player All-Pacific Region first team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and received second-team All-CCAA honors. Kellie Francis (Jr., Chino, Don Lugo HS) was fourth on the team in kills with 180 despite missing several matches with injury and should be a major contributor in 2004, while Elizabeth Defoort (Jr., Glendora, Citrus College) fifth on the team in kills with 167, should play a larger role on the team this season. Emily Kennedy (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) led the team in assists last season with 1,395, which is the second-highest single-season total in the program’s history. After two seasons, Kennedy is already third on the career assist list with 2,646. She should be one of the top setters in the CCAA once again this season. The Broncos also have Breezie Jordan (Jr., Ventura, Buena HS), who was second on the team in digs with 241, coming back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Who’s New: Cal Poly Pomona welcomes another solid recruiting class that should make major contributions for the Broncos. Antoinette Kathol (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Salle HS) is 6-foot-2-inches tall and the tallest middle blocker on the team since Karla Tate. Kiting Kolar (Fr., La Canada, La Canada HS) is a 5-6 libero who has been impressive and Jen Bullock (Sr., Anaheim, Eastern New Mexico) is a 5-9 setter with an impressive volleyball background. The Broncos are also expecting big things from Christina Gordon (Jr., Moreno Valley, Riverside CC), who will see extensive time at an outside hitter position. Gordon redshirted last season.

 

Taking The Fifth: Cal Poly Pomona has made an early habit of playing lengthy matches. Of the Broncos’ first nine contests, six of them have been decided in five games. Cal Poly Pomona is 3-3 in those matches. The Broncos endured a program-record five consecutive matches that lasted five games. The old record was four. With six five-game matches already in the books, the Broncos are already closing in on the single-season record of nine set by the 1987, 1991 and 1997 squads. Cal Poly Pomona was 2-0 in five-game matches in Alaska, knocking off Alaska Fairbanks both times the teams met. The Broncos, though, are 1-3 in five-game matches at home, losing to Seattle Pacific, Seattle University and the University of Indianapolis and beating Western New Mexico. The Broncos were 2-3 in five-game matches last season, beating then-No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino and Chico State, while losing to Chaminade, Northwest Nazarene and Sonoma State. The Broncos were 2-5 in five-game matches in 2002 and 3-5 in 2001. Cal Poly Pomona was 7-2 in five-game matches in 1997 when the Broncos were 24-8 overall and last qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

 

The Leaders Of The Stats: Allison Anderson (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) leads the team in kills with 152, while Kellie Francis (Jr., Chino, Don Lugo HS) has 150. Christina Gordon (Jr., Moreno Valley, Riverside CC) and Elizabeth Defoort (Jr., Glendora, Citrus College) have 84 kills each. Anderson’s hitting percentage of .319 leads the team. Emily Kennedy (Jr., Upland, Upland HS) leads with 385 assists, while Jen Bullock (Sr., Anaheim, Eastern New Mexico) has 81. Kennedy leads with 15 aces, while Breezie Jordan (Jr., Ventura, Buena HS) has 12. Jordan also leads in digs with 127, while Kiting Kolar (Fr., La Canada, La Canada HS) has 121. Antoinette Kathol (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Salle HS) has a team-high 50 blocks, including 14 solos. Anderson is second with 30 blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAL POLY POMONA

Women’s Volleyball

 

CPP Schedule

 

8/26     at Alaska Fairbanks!                             W, 3-2

8/27     vs. Findlay!                                           L, 1-3

8/28     vs. Western State!                                W, 3-0

8/28     at Alaska Fairbanks!                             W, 3-2

9/1       vs. Seattle Pacific                                  L, 2-3

9/3       vs. Indianapolis^                                   L, 2-3

9/3       vs. Seattle University^               L, 2-3

9/4       vs. Western New Mexico^                   W, 3-2

9/4       vs. Chaminade^                                    L, 0-3

9/10     at Cal State L.A.*                                7:00 p.m.

9/11     at CS Bakersfield*                               7:00 p.m.

9/14     vs. University of La Verne                     7:00 p.m.

9/17     at Chico State*                         7:00 p.m.

9/18     at CS Stanislaus*                                  7:00 p.m.

9/24     vs. Sonoma State*                                7:00 p.m.

9/25     vs. CS Monterey Bay*             7:00 p.m.

10/1     vs. CS San Bernardino*                       7:00 p.m.

10/2     vs. UC San Diego*                               7:00 p.m.

10/6     at CS Dominguez Hills*                        7:00 p.m.

10/15   at CS Monterey Bay*                           7:00 p.m.

10/16   at Sonoma State*                                 7:00 p.m.

10/22   vs. CS Bakersfield*                              7:00 p.m.

10/23   vs. Cal State L.A.*                               7:00 p.m.

10/29   vs. CS Stanislaus*                                7:00 p.m.

10/30   vs. Chico State*                                   7:00 p.m.

11/5     at UC San Diego*                                7:00 p.m.

11/6     at CS San Bernardino*             7:00 p.m.

11/10   vs. CS Dominguez Hills*                       7:00 p.m.

11/12   vs. Grand Canyon*                               7:00 p.m.

 

*Denotes CCAA Game

!= Midnight Sun Invitational, Alaska Fairbanks

^= Holiday Inn-Select Diamond Bar/Cal Poly Pomona Invitational