Cal Poly volleyball wraps up 2015 season with loss to UC Davis

The Cal Poly volleyball team completed one of its best seasons in recent memory Tuesday night with a four-set loss against UC Davis at The Pavilion in Davis.

Freshman outside hitter Adlee Van Winden recorded a match-high 16 kills for the Mustangs, who won the first set 25-23 and dropped the next three by scores of 25-11, 25-22 and 25-22.

Cal Poly finished the regular season 19-8 overall, earning a third-place finish in the Big West Conference with an 11-5 record against league opponents. The 19 victories were the most for the program since 2010.

Van Winden, who garnered seven Big West freshman of the week honors during her standout season, also contributed 14 digs against the Aggies (15-15, 10-6 Big West). Junior middle blocker Taylor Gruenewald chipped in 10 kills and sophomore setter Taylor Nelson turned in a match-high 33 assists in the setback.

Senior Nicole Kessler had a strong showing in the final match of her career with a match-high 20 digs. Seniors Hannah Schleis and Maddie Kuber also played for the final time as Mustangs, combining for one kill, two blocks and two assists.

Van Winden finished the year ranked fourth in the Big West with 391 kills, an average of 3.91 per set. Nelson was the second-most productive setter in the conference, delivering 1,052 assists in 27 matches. She trailed only Long Beach State’s Janelle Hudson, who tallied 1,156 assists in 29 matches.

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Cal Poly volleyball wraps up 2015 season with loss to UC Davis."