The Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team took the court for the first time last night. Today Cal State San Bernardino makes its debut.

The Broncos defeated Alaska-Fairbanks 3-0 at a steamy Darlene May Gymnasium. The Broncos have so many newcomers I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. But they have a long way to go.

The highlight was the play of sophomore Kristen McNeese, who was on the team, last year but played little. Senior setter Jasmine Davis was her usual athletic self, tracking down every errant pass and turning it into a decent hitting opportunity for those around her.

Fairbanks was not necessarily top-notch competition but provided just enough for the Broncos newcomers to get their feet wet. The match was close but it was one that you never got the feeling Cal Poly was going to lose.

The San Bernardino team was in attendance, scouting Fairbanks which it will play on Saturday.

The Coyotes play Western Washington today at 7 at Cal State Dominguez Hills in what should be an intriguing matchup.

The Vikings will likely come in with quite the chip on their shoulder. Last year six CCAA teams were in the eight-team West Region field while the GNAC had just its automatic qualifier. Western went 21-3, second in theconference to Western Oregon, and was snubbed for an at-large berth because of its very poor strength of schedule.

What better way to prove a point than knock off the national runner-up.

And it will be the first match of the post-Jessica Granados era.

Stay tuned.

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