SAN FRANCISCO -- No. 1-ranked Cal State San Bernardino improved to 9-0 on the season and 2-0 in the CCAA conference Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over San Francisco State on the Gators' home court.
    Senior middle blocker Sara Rice had a career-high 18 kills on .654 hitting with three blocks and senior right side hitter Jessica Granados matched her with 18 kills and nine digs as the Coyotes prevailed 25-22, 24-26, 25-17, 25-18.
    The Gators are now 6-4 on the season, 0-2 in the CCAA after a 3-1 loss to Cal Poly Pomona Friday night.
    CSUSB hit .323 for the match, well above the average of .300 through the first eight matches of the season. The Coyotes hit .448 in the first set and .484 in the fourth set. SFSU hit just .114 for the match.
    Junior outside hitter Ashtin Hall had a career-high 22 digs to go with seven kills and three blocks. Senior libero Meghan Haas had 29 digs. Junior setter Sara Hoffman had 41 assists, four kills, two service aces and nine digs. Freshman middle blocker Samantha Middleborn came off the bench to produce four kills and three blocks, one of them a solo.
    Halimah Oswald led the Gators with nine kills and three blocks. Brittany Powell had four solo blocks for the Gators to go with eight kills.
    The first set was impressive with both sides playing well. The score was tied eight times and there were three lead changes as the Coyotes won 25-22. CSUSB hit just .083 in the second set and SFSU just .111 in a 26-24 Gators win.
    CSUSB led all the way in set three and put away the hosts in set four.
    The Coyotes return home to face Chico State on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday night at 7. Both matches are in Coussoulis Arena on the CSUSB campus.