SEASIDE -- Cal State San Bernardino's strong front line was the difference Friday night as the nation's No. 2-ranked women's volleyball team defeated a determined Cal State Monterey Bay team, 3-0, in a CCAA conference match to improve to 17-0, 10-0 in the conference.
    Junior Jane Chafeh overcame early difficulties to finish with a double-double, 12 kills and 10 digs, while sophomore middle blockers Megan Johnson and Samantha Middleborn pretty much dominated the net, combining for 20 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Carty had eight kills and 11 digs.
    The loss dropped the Otters to 7-11 overall and 2-8 in the CCAA. CSUSB moves on to face an improved San Francisco State team on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Gators entered the weekend 13-4 overall and 6-3 in the CCAA.
    This was no walkover for the Coyotes, even though they have never lost to the Otters in 12 meetings.
    Monterey Bay was in the match but fell short 25-20, 25-22 and 25-19.
    Johnson was en fuego with 10 kills in 16 swings (.438 hitting) and two block assists. Middleborn had eight kills in 12 swings (.583 hitting) with one block assist. Chafeh hit just .154 on 12 of 26 attacks and Carty hit .357, with her eight kills in 14 swings.
     Backing up the CSUSB offense were redshirt freshman libero Camille Smith with 12 digs and three service aces. Senior setter Sara Hoffman had 30 assists and senior Alyssa Auck came off the bench to add 14 more assists.
     For the Otters, Tiffaney Riggs was a force with six kills on .385 hitting and five block assists. Rheanna Fall had a team-high seven kills and six digs. The Otters hit just .146 for the match while the Coyotes hit .276. The Coyotes led in kills 48-30 and digs 46-30.
     The victory gave Head Coach Kim Cherniss her 399th career win at CSUSB heading into Saturday's clash with the Gators.