Box Score: Coyotes 3, UC San Diego 2

SAN BERNARDINO -- Six straight points in the decisive fifth set put the Coyotes in control as they went on to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win over UC San Diego on Wednesday night in CCAA volleyball at Coussoulis Arena.

Junior Danielle Newcombe led the Coyotes' charge wtih a season-best 17 kills as CSUSB won its eighth-straight in in its first five-set match against a CCAA opponent in Coussoulis in five seasons.

CSUSB, now 11-6 and a league-leading 8-1 in the CCAA, played just its second five-set match of the season and its first at home against a conference foe since its match against UCSD in the 2007 season.

Freshman Ashley Solis had 13 kills, while senior MB Mercedes Winchester had a .500 night on the attack with 12 kills, one error in 22 attempts in an 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10 victory over Tritons (11-6, 6-3 CCAA).

UCSD forced the fifth set by winning the final four points in the fourth.

But any Tritons' hope of maintaining that momentum was quickly squashed as CSUSB broke away from a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a 6-0 run capped by a pair of Winchester kills and a Solis solo block.

The Coyotes remained in front and built the lead to 14-7 on block assists from Newcombe and freshman Brenna McIntosh. UCSD scored on three quick points, but the Coyotes gave their hometown faithful something to cheer about as freshman Alexandra Torline threw down a kill for the set and match-winner.

Senior All-American setter and this week's CCAA Player of the Week Camille Smith had a double-double with 50 assists and 15 digs with a solo and a block assist. Three other Coyotes -- Newcombe (16), McIntosh (12) and freshman Jordan Ortega (10) each had double-figure dig performances.

After UCSD fired a .343 in the opening set for the win, the Coyotes settled down and earned successive set wins. Most impressisve was the set 4 attack percentage as CSUSB fired a .467 on 15 kills, just one error in 30 attempts.

The fourth set had 12 ties and seven lead changes until UCSD's late run got it the win.

MATCH NOTES: The Coyotes will play both of their weekend matches in The Den as Coussoulis Arena will be used for this week's San Manuel Pow Wow. The Cal State East Bay will be 7 p.m. Friday and and CSU Monterey Bay at 5 p.m. Saturday... Sara McCutchan had a match-high 21 kills for UCSD.