Volleyball 9/18/2009 11:40:21 PM Mike Murphy, SID

Coyotes whip Chico State, 3-1

Chafeh, Middleborn combine for 38 kills in surge after opening set loss

Camille Smith had a career-high 16 digs in CSUSB's 3-1 victory over Chico State Friday night.

        CHICO -- Stunned by a rare first-set loss against Chico State, the Coyotes bared their fangs and chewed up the 24th-ranked Wildcats in the final three sets for a 3-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball victory Friday night before 245 fans in Acker Gym.
        The victory improved the No. 2-ranked Coyotes to 10-0 on the season and 3-0 in the CCAA as they head for Turlock and a 7 p.m. Saturday date with Cal State Stanislaus.
         The Wildcats are now 11-2 overall and 2-1 in the CCAA after absorbing a beating from the Coyotes in the final three sets. Chico fans roared as the 'Cats took a 25-23 decision in set one, but then faltered as the Coyotes put them away 25-16, 25-7 and 25-18.
         CSUSB junior outside hitter Jane Chafeh, ranked No. 2 in the nation in kills per set, had a match-high 25 kills on 51 swings with just five errors for .392 hitting. She also contributed nine digs and two blocks, one of them solo.
          Sophomore middle blocker controlled the middle with 13 kills on .478 hitting with three block assists. Senior setter Sara Hoffman had 41 assists, 11 digs and two block assists. Redshirt freshman libero Camille Smith had a season-high 16 digs and sophomore outside hitter Morgan Carty chipped in 12 digs and six kills.
           Junior outside hitter Nicole Moore came off the bench to slam down nine kills on 14 attempts with no errors on .643 hitting.
            Chico's Makenzie Snyder, who came into the weekend leading the nation in kills per set, had 15 on .234 hitting with four service aces. Jessica Simms had a team-high 13 digs. Setter Sable Villaescusa had 25 assists.
            The Coyotes hit .422 for the match to just .150 for the Wildcats. CSUSB hit .514 in set two and .526 in set three and committed just 10 attack errors in 116 swings.
            The victory extended CSUSB's unbeaten streak to 25 straight since the Wildcats entered the CCAA in 1998-99. Counting two non-conference wins over Chico in 1997, the streak is at 27.
             In winning the third set 25-7, CSUSB senior Ashtin Hall served four straight points as the Coyotes built an 18-6 lead, then Middleborn served five straight points as the Coyotes went up 24-6 before the set ended on a Chico service error.

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