Men’s Volleyball Opens 2026 Season at Fullerton, Returns Home for El Camino Matchup

FULLERTON, CA (1/28/2026) -- Men's volleyball opened the 2026 season on the road Wednesday night, falling in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 28-26, at Fullerton College.

Palomar continued to battle throughout the match and showed steady improvement as the night went on, closing strong in the third set before coming up just short. The Comets totaled 32 kills and increased their offensive efficiency in each set, highlighted by a .360 hitting percentage in the final frame.

Paul Kozmiski paced Palomar with a team-high 12 kills while adding an assist, a service ace, and a block to finish with 13.5 points. Tyler Smith followed with seven kills and contributed across the stat sheet, while Josh Garland recorded six kills. Aiden Gardiner was efficient at the net, posting four kills on eight swings and adding a block.

Todd Clemens directed the offense with 27 assists, keeping the Comets in rhythm and spreading the ball to multiple attackers. Defensively, Palomar extended rallies and applied pressure late, with several players contributing digs as the Comets pushed Fullerton in each set.

Palomar will look to carry that momentum into its home opener tomorrow, welcoming El Camino College for a 5 p.m. first serve.