POMONA -- Sophomore middle blocker Samantha Middleborn converted 10 kills in 12 attempts and blocked eight attacks, two of them solo, in leading unbeaten Cal State San Bernardino to a 3-0 sweep of rival Cal Poly Pomona in a CCAA conference match at Darlene May Gym.
       The Coyotes are now 12-0 on the season and 5-0 in the CCAA, maintaining a one-game lead over the rest of the pack as they prepare to host Humboldt State and 15th-ranked Sonoma State on Friday and Saturday in Coussoulis Arena. Match time on Friday is 7 p.m. while Saturday's match will be at 3 p.m.
      The Coyotes took charge early with a 25-11 victory in the first set. The Broncos made a strong bid for the second set which was tied nine times before CSUSB pulled away from an 18-18 tie with four straight points capped by a kill by Morgan Carty to lead 22-18. Middleborn's kill put CSUSB at set point in the 25-21 result. CSUSB put the match away, 25-13 in the third set.
     Middleborn made no attack errors and hit .833 for the match. She was aided by sophomore outside hitter Carty who had eight kills on 13 attacks (.538 hitting) with five assists, seven digs and four block assists. Sophomore middle blocker Megan Johnson chipped in six kills in eight attemmpts (.625 hitting.
       All-America setter Sara Hoffman had 28 assists and redshirt freshman libero Camille Smith had a match-high 11 digs for CSUSB. The Coyotes, ranked No. 2 in the nation in hitting percentage at .306,  hit .386 for the match while the Broncos hit just .011. Elizabeth Diaz led the Broncos with nine kills. Jasmine Davis had 24 assists.
       CSUSB's Jane Chafeh, ranked No. 2 in the nation in kills per set at 5.05, made a cameo appearance and had one kill in two attacks. The Broncos committed 24 attack errors to just nine for CSUSB. Cal Poly Pomona is now 5-7 overall and 2-3 in the CCAA.
        The victory improved the Coyotes lead in the all-time series with the Broncos to 23-19. CSUSB has now won seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams.