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POMONA -- Victory No. 17 on the 2011 season brought out a twist for the No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes in their match against long-time rival Cal Poly Pomona.
For the first time this season, the Coyotes found themselves trailing after the first set.
More importantly, for the 17th time in as many matches, the Coyotes were the team that finished the night with a triumph.
Junior All-American setter
Camille Smith had a double-double with 40 assists and 10 digs while helping the Coyotes to a collective .308 attack effort as they defeated the Broncos 3-1 (25-27, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22) at Kellogg Gym on Friday night.
All-American
Samantha Middleborn had 13 kills and a match-high five blocks and teammates
Danielle Newcombe and
Morgan Carty each threw down 11 kills as CSUSB improved to 17-0 overall and 12-0 in the CCAA in its beginning match of second-half CCAA play.
The Broncos (9-8, 6-7) made certain this would not be a quick night for the Coyotes. Especially when they fought back from a set-deciding point in the opener. With CSUSB leading 25-24, the Broncos earned three points and led 1-0.
But CSUSB would not be deterred. The Coyotes, who had 54 kills, six service aces and totaled 20 blocks (two solos, 18 assists) routed the Broncos in the second set behind a .458 attack effort.
With the match tied at 1-1, CSUSB grabbed the lead from the outset and never trailed in the third set.
The fourth and final set featured five ties. After CSUSB trailed 8-6,
Megan Johnson set in motion a 5-0 run with a kill and the Coyotes led 11-8.
The set was tied at 11-11 and 14-apiece, before the Coyotes got going down the stretch. A kill and a service ace from Carty gave the Coyotes a 2-point cushion and they added to the lead with two attack errors from CPP.
Leading 18-14, the Coyotes stayed in front, but CPP remained a threat. Leading 21-20, the Coyotes forged ahead on another attack error and a kill from Johnson, an ace from libero
Kelcie Tolan and a kill from Middleborn made the Coyotes a winner inside recently renovated Kellogg Gym.
Carty led the Coyotes with four service aces.
The Coyotes will play at San Francisco State on Saturday night.
