CSUSB ready for region opener

Coyotes host Falcons in quarterfinals Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Team unity has played a big role in Cal State San Bernardino's succes in 2009.

    Cal State San Bernardino is at home this week to not only defend the NCAA Division II West Region championship it won in 2008, but to focus on making another run at an elusive target – the first-ever national championship by a Coyotes team in any sport.

    The Coyotes, 29-1 overall and the CCAA conference champion, open the tournament Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Coyote Gymnasium (The Den) against Seattle Pacific (16-11), the second-place team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

    The winner of this match will face the winner of the Alaska-Anchorage-Hawaii-Hilo match at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

    The championship match is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.

    HOME WIN STREAK – The Coyotes carry a 28-match home win streak into the tournament. The team's last loss was to Western Washington in the 2007 West Regional title match in Coussoulis Arena.

    NOTEWORTHY – Coyotes Head Coach Kim Cherniss attained 400 wins in her collegiate career with a CSUSB victory at San Francisco State on Oct. 10. Her career record now stands at 411-176.

    HOME COOKING –Since the start of the 1997 season the Coyotes' home record is 166-17 and 120-10 in CCAA conference play.

    REGIONAL RECORD – This is CSUSB's 10th straight appearance in the West Regional and the team has advanced to the title match in each of the last nine seasons, winning the title in 2003, 2004 and 2008.

    FOUR FOR FOUR – The three seniors on this year's Coyotes team have achieved something special – playing on four-straight CCAA conference title teams (2006-2009). They are Ashtin Hall, Sara Hoffman and Alyssa Auck who arrived in 2006.

    TWO RECORDS SET – The 29 wins during the regular season is a new record for the team in Division II play. The 21 CCAA conference wins is also the most ever achieved in a single season.

    NCAA LEADERBOARD – Junior outside hitter Jane Chafeh ranks No. 2 in the nation in Div. II in kills per set at .473…..sophomore Samantha Middleborn is 17th in hitting percentage at .369 and 33rd in blocks per set (1.07)….setter Sara Hoffman is 14th in assists per set (11.25).

    NCAA TEAM LEADERS – CSUSB is No. 4 in hitting percentage (.294), No. 12 in assists per set (13.18) and No. 13 in kills per set (14.14).

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