ARCATA -- Cal State San Bernardino, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 3 in the nation, survived its most grueling road trip of the season, sweeping host Humboldt State, 3-0, Saturday night, after taking the measure of Sonoma State (No. 3 in the West, No. 19 in nation), 3-0, on Friday.
The Coyotes retained their half-game lead in the CCAA conference over UC San Diego, No. 2 in the West Region and No. 2 in the nation.
Senior
Ashtin Hall stepped up with perhaps the best match of her career, certainly her senior season with 13 kills on .462 hitting and 14 digs in the win over the Lumberjacks. Six of her kills came in the first set, won by CSUSB, 25-20. The Coyotes took sets two and three 25-23 and 25-20.
The twin losses dropped HSU to 7-17 overall and 3-13 in the conference.
It was also a sparkling night for CSUSB sophomore middle blocker
Megan Johnson who had a match-high and personal best 14 kills on .323 hitting with two blocks.
Jane Chafeh, the No. 1 kill artist in Division II at 4.74 kills per set, settled for 10 kills. Redshirt freshman libero
Camille Smith had 16 digs.
Senior setter
Alyssa Auck played the entire match and delivered a personal best 42 assists, six digs and one block.
Callan Finley led HSU with nine kills on .308 hitting with seven digs. Danielle Wells had seven kills and three blocks. Dani Nelson had 16 digs from her libero position and Joliann Arzadu garnered 24 assists. The Coyotes hit .275 to HSU's .235.
The closest set as the middle one. CSUSB went up 24-20 and then watched the 'Jacks score three straight points, forcing Coyotes Head Coach
Kim Cherniss to take a timeout. After the break, Johnson supplied set point with a kill.
CSUSB has now won all eight meetings since HSU joined the CCAA and leads the all-time series 11-3.
The Coyotes return to action next Friday and Saturday, playing Cal State L.A. (18-7 overall, 14-4 in the CCAA) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-22 overall, 1-15 in the CCAA) on the road.