Cal State San Bernardino's hard-hitting and blocking front line stifled West Region No. 9 San Francisco State Friday night en route to a 3-0 sweep of the Gators to clinch at least a tie for the CCAA conference volleyball title with one match remaining.
    The Coyotes, now 28-1 on the season and 20-1 in the CCAA can claim their fourth outright conference title in a row and seventh in the last nine years with a victory over Cal State Monterey Bay at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Coussoulis Arena.
    SFSU heads for Cal Poly Pomona to close out the regular season with a 19-10 record, 12-9 in the CCAA.
    The Coyotes prevailed 25-12, 25-16, and 25-9, supportive of their No. 1 ranking in the West Region and No. 2 position in the NCAA Div. II top 25.  The NCAA championships committee will announce the seedings and host for the 2009 West Regional on Sunday night.
   UC San Diego, ranked No. 2 in the West Region and No. 3 in the nation, remained one game behind the Coyotes with one to play with a 3-0 sweep of Sonoma State in La Jolla Friday night. The Tritons close out the season against Humboldt State Saturday night.
    The victory was CSUSB's 27th straight at home dating back to the start of the 2008 season.
     Senior Ashtin Hall led the Coyotes with 14 kills on .448 hitting, nine digs and four block assists. Sophomore Samantha Middleborn had 11 kills on 14 attacks (.786 hitting) with nine blocks, two solo. Sophomore Megan Johnson had 10 kills on 12 attacks (.833) and two block assists. Senior setter Sara Hoffman had 48 assists, eight digs and two block assists. Junior Jane Chafeh, coming off a 29-kill night against Cal Baptist on Thursday, settled for eight kills but had 17 digs and a service ace. Libero Camille Smith finished with a match-high 19 digs.
    Beth Perkins led the Gators with seven kills but had to try 48 swings to get them (.062 hitting). Setter Iris Tolenada had 18 assists and a team-high 11 digs. The Gators hit just .053 against the Coyotes who lead the CCAA in opponent hitting percentage. 
    CSUSB hit .395 for the match (55 of 114 with 10 errors). The Coyotes led in kills 55-24, digs 64-40, and assists 54-21.
    There were only six tie scores and two lead changes the entire match.