Volleyball 9/30/2011 10:38:00 PM CSUSB Sports Information

Coyotes answer Sonoma State challenge, take 3-0 win

CSUSB now sole leader in CCAA after holding off Seawolves in 3rd set

Junior Jessica Girgle served the go-ahead and match points Friday night as the Coyotes beat Sonoma State 3-0

    ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State San Bernardino held off a determined upset bid by host Sonoma State Friday night, defeating the Seawolves, 3-0, in a tightly-contested match to assume sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Associatioin volleyball standings.
    The hosts gave the Coyotes all they could handle before falling 25-22, 25-21 and 26-24 before a crowd of 702 on "Pack the Gym" night. CSUSB is now 13-0 on the season and 8-0 in the conference while the Seawolves are 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the CCAA.
    The Coyotes lead the all-time series with Sonoma State 29-5 and have won the last 28 straight matches dating back to 1995.
    Up 2-0 and leading 23-20 in the third set, the Coyotes suddenly found themselves behind 24-23 and the Seawolves had set point to force a fourth set. However, a kill by senior Morgan Carty tied it at 24. CSUSB regained the lead at 25-24 on a solo block by sophomore Danielle Newcombe on Jessica Girgle's serve. Girgle then served on match point and Carty came through with the clinching kill off an assist by setter Camille Smith.
    The Coyotes, ranked No. 3 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, were led by senior middle blocker Samantha Middleborn with 11 kills on .409 hitting with four block assists and two service aces. Carty, in one of her best matches of the season, had nine kills including two crucial points in the third set, nine digs and three service aces. Smith came through with 30 assists, nine digs and three block assists.
    CSUSB hit just .229 for the match, their lowest percentage of the season and a testament to the Seawolves side.
    Kelsey Hall led Sonoma State with 10 kills on .273 hitting while Allyson Sather had eight kills on .333 hitting. Hayley Ross had 34 assists and two service aces from her setter position. The Coyote defense limited Seawolves ace Keala Peterson to just eight kills on .032 hitting with nine errors in 31 attacks.
    The Coyotes remain on the road next week, starting on Wednesday night with a match against UC San Diego, ranked No. 15 in the nation, at the UCSD campus in La Jolla.

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