SAN BERNARDINO -- A new season began for third-ranked Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday night.
And the results the Coyotes put forth on the Coussoulis Arena court were much like those in the past.
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CSUSB extended its home winning streak to 47 consecutive matches with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) victory over visiting Western Oregon (0-1) in the first match of the three-day, Coyote Classic Labor Day Tourney.
All-American and returning National Player of the Year
Samantha Middleborn led with a match-high 14 kills and .444 attack percentage with four total blocks, and teammate
Danielle Newcombe threw down a career-high 10 kills on the night.
Senior
Megan Johnson did not record an error in 13 attacks and finished 7-0-13 (.636). Fellow senior
Morgan Carty also had seven kills and tied for match-high honors with 12 digs. Senior
Kelcie Tolan had nine digs.
Junior All-American
Camille Smith had 25 assists on the night wiht one solo block.
The Coyotes were dominant on the attack and did not let the Wolves gain much momentum. WOU was held to 26-19-98 on the attack, a .071 percentage. Danielle Reese led with 10 kills.
CSUSB never trailed in the opening set, firing off a .216 (17-9-37). Three straight kills by Middleborn put CSUSB in command 13-7. The Wolves got to within two points (14-12), but the Coyotes outscored WOU 11-6 down the stretch.
In set two and tied at 12-12, CSUSB took advantage of three consecutive Wolves' errors and forged ahead 16-12 on a Middleborn kill. The Coyotes held WOU to -121 in the set -- five kills on nine errors.
A Newcombe kill gave the Coyotes a 14-9 lead in the third set, but the Wolves didn't go away. They scored six straight points -- with two service aces from Megan Triggs -- and grabbed the lead 15-14.
But seven errors from the Wolves right afterward helped the Coyotes over the final stretch.
CSUSB next plays Alaska-Anchorage at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
The tourney begins at 10 a.m. with five matches run consecutively inside Coussoulis and two matches inside The Den, also beginning at 10 a.m.
