Men’s Volleyball Drops Four-Set Match to El Camino, Heads to Santa Monica Next

SAN MARCOS, CA (1/29/2026) -- Men's volleyball returned home Thursday night but came up short in a four-set loss to El Camino College, falling 25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20.

Palomar responded after dropping the opening set by taking the second, using consistent offense and improved rhythm to even the match. El Camino, however, regained momentum in the third and closed out the contest in four. The Comets finished the night with 39 kills and were active defensively at the net, totaling 21 blocks in the match.

Tyler Smith paced Palomar with a team-high 11 kills to go along with six digs and three block assists. Paul Kozmiski added nine kills, two service aces, and two block assists, while Connor Ferguson contributed six kills and four block assists. Aiden Gardiner was a defensive presence at the net, recording six block assists in addition to five kills.

Todd Clemens directed the offense with 24 assists and chipped in two kills, helping keep the Comets competitive throughout the night. Palomar also totaled 53 digs as the back row worked to extend rallies and create transition opportunities.

The Comets will look to bounce back Wednesday when they travel to face Santa Monica College for a 6 p.m. first serve.