Box Score: No. 25 Coyotes 3, SF State 1

SAN BERNARDINO -- Saturday night's match against San Francisco State featured all the elements of a match to remember for the Coyotes.

On Senior Night with a match against the second-place team in the CCAA, Cal State San Bernardino gave the 404 in attendance at Coussoulis Arena a night they will not soon forget.. Behind freshman Brenna McIntosh's 18 kills and nine blocks, the 25th-ranked Coyotes clinched their seventh consecutive CCAA title and clinched an NCAA Tournament berth with a 27-29, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17 victory over the Gators.

CSUSB was extended in the first set and needed just one point to earn the win. But after trailing 24-21, the Gators (19-8, 14-6) climbed back as the set was tied four times before they got the win at 29-27.

But over the next three sets, CSUSB came roaring back by allowing just two lead changes and five ties.

With sophomore Jordan Ortega serving, the Coyotes earned a 5-0 run early on for a 6-1  lead and stayed out front to earn the set and tie the match at 1-1. CSUSB had 15 kills for the set and hit .297 and added two blocks and a service ace from McIntosh.

The Coyotes went ahead 2-1 winning the third by grabbing the lead early. After a 2-2 tie, McIntosh came alive with four consecutive kills. She finished with seven in the set.

And in the decisive fourth set, the Coyotes came alive after SFSU's Megan Johnson tied the set at 15-15 with a kill. After a SFSU attack error, CSUSB received a block from McIntosh and Jade Robinson and that was followed by a kill from senior All-American Camille Smith that put the Coyotes up 18-15.

Leading 19-16 and with Ortega serving, CSUSB ripped off five consecutive points with block assists from McIntosh and Torline and another from McIntosh and junior Danielle Newcombe for a 24-16 lead.

After an SFSU kill, the Coyotes earned the set and match win with a bad set from the Gators.

Earlier in the night, Sonoma State defeated UC San Diego and that allowed the Coyotes to win the CCAA title with two matches remaining in the regular season.

Torline had 15 kills and Winchester added 11 as the Coyotes improved to 20-8 overall and 17-3 in the CCAA. It marks the 16th consecutive year that a Kim Cherniss-coached team has won at least 20 in a season.

Smith added 46 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore libero Arielle McCullough had 19 digs. 

CSUSB completes the regular season next weekend on the road with matches at Cal State Monterey Bay (Friday) and Cal State East Bay (Saturday).

Megan Johnson led SFSU with 13 kills.

Earlier, the Coyotes honored their four graduating seniors -- Jessica Girgle, Smith, Erica Walters and Winchester in a prematch ceremony.