HAYWARD -- Cal State San Bernardino's unbeaten volleyball team, perhaps looking ahead to Saturday night's clash with UC San Diego, managed to take a 3-0 victory from Cal State East Bay Friday night, but it wasn't easy.
    The Coyotes, 19-0 overall, 12-0 in the CCAA and ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 2 in the nation, were pressured in every set by the host Pioneers on "Pink Dig" cancer awareness night, prevailing 25-20, 26-24 and 25-19. The Pioneers are now 6-14 overall and 4-8 in the CCAA.
    CSUSB dominated all but one statistical category on the night but the never-say-die Pioneers kept coming back and forcing the issue with the Coyotes. CSUSB led in kills 43-29, digs 59-40 and assists 41-25, but the Pioneers had 6 blocks to 2 for the Coyotes.
    Junior outside hitter Jane Chafeh posted another double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs on .289 hitting while sophomore Morgan Carty had nine kills on .333 hitting with 11 digs, three service aces and a solo block.
    Libero Camille Smith and senior outside hitter Ashtin Hall each had 11 digs and setter Sara Hoffman had 35 assists.
    After winning set one, the Coyotes took a 15-10 lead in set two only to have East Bay rally to trail 16-15 and then get even with CSUSB at 24-all. However, a Chafeh kill and a solo block by Carty on set point gave the set to the Coyotes.
    The Coyotes moved out to a comfortable 16-7 lead on a Chafeh kill in set three, but the Pioneers slowly crept back into the match and narrowed the gap to 20-19 on a pair of kills by Brianna Bryant, an ace by Sukhjit Athwal and a Coyotes attack error.
    However, CSUSB ran off five straight points, four on Carty's serve and Carty closed out the match with a service ace at match point.
    The Coyotes hit a poor, for them, .204 for the match, well below their season average of .297. East Bay hit just .123.