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SAN BERNARDINO -- Senior All-American Samantha Middleborn proved yet again she is playing at an optimal level. And as NCAA Tourney time awaits the Coyotes next week, the reigning National Player of the Year was at her best Friday night.

Middleborn threw down a career-high 21 kills and tied the school record with 11 block assists as the top-ranked Coyotes defeated Cal State Monterey Bay 3-1 before a crowd of 412 at Coussoulis Arena.

CSUSB improved its school-record winning streak to 26 matches and looks to close the regular season unbeaten for the first time when the Coyotes (26-0, 21-0 CCAA) face Cal State East Bay on Saturday on Senior Night.

The Coyotes earned the four-set win -- 25-10, 25-13, 29-31, 25-16 -- on the strength of a .355 attack percentage match. They established a season-high 71 kills in the four-set win.

CSUSB sailed through the first two sets with a .388 attack effort (32-6-67) and looked to close in on its ninth straight 3-0 win and 21st of the season.

But the Otters (9-15, 6-15) would have none of that on this night as set three had six-match point efforts before CSUMB closed out the set with the win.

Middleborn was 24-3-35 for the night and surpassed her previous high of 19. In the fourth set, she earned her 11th block assist to tie the school record held by Amy Long in 2005.

Seniors Priscilla Collings and Megan Johnson each had 12 kills, while junior All-American setter Camille Smith had 36 assists.

CSUSB had a sound defensive effort with a total of 73 digs with four players reaching double digits -- senior Morgan Carty 16, Smith and freshman Arielle McCullough with 12 and sophomore Danielle Newcombe 10.

The Coyotes will honor their seven seniors -- Kate Barton, Carty, Collings, Krista Hasemeyer, Middleborn, Johnson and Kelcie Tolan in a prematch ceremony. Entering the match, the senior class has never lost a home match in their four years going 60-0 overall and 43-0 in CCAA play.