Cal State Fullerton

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball program split opening day at the Bearkat Invitational with a straight-set loss to Sam Houston and a straight-set victory over McNeese. 

The Titans opened the season with a 1-1 (.500) overall record. Freshmen Bella Risling and Sofia Shine led the Titans offensively through both matches, combining for 39 of the team's 68 kills. Risling tallied 21 kills on .226 hitting, 16 of which came in the team's sweep over McNeese, two service aces and two block assists. Shine added 18 kills on .100 hitting with one block assist. 

Sam Houston 3, Cal State Fullerton 0 (16-25, 15-25, 21-25)

The Titans dropped their first set of the season, 25-16, after opening the match with a 4-0 lead behind two service aces from Parys Taylor. Taylor contributed three kills on .167 hitting to lead Fullerton's offense. The Titans traded points early before the Bearkats closed out the set. 

Fullerton fell 25-15 in the middle frame. Risling entered the game and led the Titans offensively with three kills on .429 hitting. Newcomers Arianna Ellis and Ava Pond contributed two kills each, helping strengthen the team's hitting percentage to .107. 

Returning middle blocker Hannah Hass opened the third set with a kill, sparking early momentum for the Titans. Shine used a kill to even the match at 3-3 before Zariah Crosby and Pond combined at the net to gain a 4-3 edge. 

Denied??

The Titans take a 4-3 lead on a block by Zariah Crosby and Ava Pond. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/eBNbrmpSoI

— Titans Volleyball (@Fullerton_WVB) August 28, 2026

Taylor found her third service ace of the match to neutralize the set at 12-12, and Shine and Hass met at the net for a block to take a 13-12 lead. 

Titans take the lead on a block by Hass and Shine!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/HYRvthmVTI

— Titans Volleyball (@Fullerton_WVB) August 28, 2026

The Titans refused to go down without a fight, tying the set at 20-20 following a Sam Houston attacking error. Risling fended off a Sam Houston match point before an attacking error by Fullerton sealed the 3-0 victory for the Bearkats. 

Cal State Fullerton 3, McNeese 0 (26-24, 25-19, 28-26)

Fullerton earned its first set win of the year against McNeese. Risling continued to make an impact for the Titans, helping them to a 3-0 advantage with a service ace and kill. Risling and Shine led Fullerton offensively with five kills each. Italia Bernal and Ellis added two kills apiece as the Titans jumped to a 20-14 lead. A late run by McNeese tied the opening set at 24-24, but a kill by Shine and a service ace by Bernal secured a 26-24 win. 

The Titans won the second set, 25-19, shutting the door on a 7-0 scoring run. Hass and Bernal set the tone early, earning the opening point with a block assist. McNeese went on a five-point run to grab a 9-6 lead. Graham, Ellis, and Taylor tallied a kill to even the set at 18-18. McNeese responded with a kill for a 19-18 edge before the Titans won the set with two kills, two block assists and a service ace.

Fullerton completed the sweep over McNeese with a 28-26 third-set victory. A service ace and back-to-back kills by Risling powered the Titans to a 4-3 advantage. Risling's 15th kill of the match extended Fullerton's lead to 19-16, while McNeese rallied to even the set at 20-20. The Titans and Cowboys traded points through 11 ties and six lead changes before Ellis recorded back-to-back kills and Graham sealed the win with a service ace. 

The Titans close out opening weekend at the Bearkat Invitational against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday morning. First serve is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. PT. 

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