Box Score: No. 2 Coyotes def. Western Washington 3-0

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. --  Hours after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of No. 24-ranked Alaska Anchorage, Cal State San Bernardino responded by sweeping unranked Western Washington Saturday in the final match of the Phoenix Inn GNAC-CCAA Challenge volleyball tournament.

    The Coyotes, ranked No. 2 in the nation, finished the tournament 3-1 and return home Sunday to start preparing for the opening of the CCAA conference schedule on Friday in Coussoulis Arena against Cal State Monterey Bay.

    The sweep over Western Washington seemed improbable since the Vikings had previously beaten No. 10 Metro State and No. 8 UC San Diego in the tournament and figured to put up a stout battle with the Coyotes. It didn't happen.

    CSUSB muscled its way past WWU 25-16, 25-14 and 25-18 behind 20 kills, three solo blocks and two block assists by all-American Jane Chafeh who hit .415 for the match with only three attack errors in 41 swings. Chafeh was later named to the all-tournament team.

     Middle blockers Samantha Middleborn and Megan Johnson each had eight kills with Middleborn hitting .778 and Johnson .538 as the Coyotes were hitting with efficiency, finishing with a .448 hitting percentage with only six errors in 96 swings.

    Sophomore setter Camille Smith had 39 assists while libero Kelcie Tolan finished with a match-high 15 digs, four more than teammate Morgan Carty. Tolan also had three service aces.    

    The Coyotes defense limited the Vikings to .144 hitting.     

Box Score:  No. 24 Alaska Anchorage def. No. 2 Coyotes 3-0

   In the morning match, No. 24-ranked Alaska Anchorage shocked the defending NCAA Division II West Region champions with a straight set defeat.

     Alaska-Anchorage took the first and second sets 25-20 and prevailed in the third set 25-23.