No. 8 San Mateo halts No. 16 Cabrillo's record 121-match Coast Conference winning streak

CCCAA Women's Volleyball: Standings l Scoreboard

SAN MATEO - FINALLY, the record win streak has been put to an end – by College of San Mateo's women's volleyball team – after close tries in the previous two seasons. 

Cabrillo College came to the College Heights gym Friday night boasting an incredible 121 match Coast Conference win streak, having won 13 consecutive league titles (dating to 2007) and going unbeaten in league play since 2009. Cabrillo went 142-1 during those 13 Coast title runs -- until Friday!

CSM (3-0) is now atop the Coast standings, after taking care of the Seahawks in four sets. Cabrillo (1-1) won the first set, 20-25, and that was it. San Mateo swept the next three sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 -- and the streak was over.

"We came out a little flat in the first set," said CSM coach Katie Goldhahn-Ballard. "But we battled in the next three and felt like we were firing on all cylinders, offensively and defensively."

The Bulldogs (12-4 overall) were ranked No. 8 in the state prior to the victory. The only opponents they have not defeated this season are state No. 1 Fresno and No. 2 Feather River. (CSM split with American River and Cabrillo, losing an early tournament contest with the Seahawks, 3-2.) State No. 16 Cabrillo fell to 5-4 overall.

STAT LEADERS
Naomie Cremoux (a 5-10 freshman out of Los Altos High School) had 18 kills and three service aces for CSM. Sophomore setter Ana Eatmon (Angelo Rodriguez H.S., Fairfield) had 35 assists (and leads the Coast), also 14 digs and two aces. Freshman Angelina Estrada (James Logan, Union City) also had 14 digs. Freshman Alister Borabo (Mercy, Burlingame) had three aces, 12 digs, and six kills. LoLo Folau (a 6-0 freshman out of Aragon, San Mateo) had a pair of solo blocks.   

"Our passing and serving game was very strong," said Goldhahn, "something that was our focus all week in practice. We talk about getting '1% better' every time we step in the court --and we are in delivery on that statement." 

STREAK NOTES
Cabrillo's last league loss came early in the 2009 season, to Gavilan. Cabrillo won the rematch. Both teams finished league play at 9-1 to share the crown. Cabrillo ended that season with eight league wins to start the long streak. 

CSM had extended the Seahawks in both of their last two meetings in San Mateo. Cabrillo finished the last (2019) season with a 12-0 Coast North record after holding off the Bulldogs, 25-15, 19-25 22-25, 25-11, 16-14, in the league finale. That made the streak 120 contests entering the next (2021) season (with no league competition in 2020).

In their 2018 San Mateo meeting, the Bulldogs won the first two sets and led, 13-10 and 14-12, in the third period -- before the Seahawks rebounded for a 25-17 set win. They won the next two sets, 25-10, 15-12, to preserve the streak. Cabrillo was the CCCAA state champion in 2013 and 2015.

NEXT
CSM visits state No. 40 Hartnell on Wednesday (Oct. 13) and hosts City College of San Francisco on Friday (at 5:30 p.m.).

(Fred Baer, College of San Mateo)