Box Score: No. 22 Coyotes 3, CSU East Bay

HAYWARD -- After clinching the CCAA title a week ago, there might have been a concern of the Coyotes sustaining a letdown with a final road trip to close out the regular season.

A chance of a letdown? How about no chance.

Freshman Alexandra Torline led the Coyotes with 15 kills as they posted their 19th win in the last 21 matches with a 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 win over host Cal State East Bay on Saturday night.

CSUSB finished the conference season at 19-3 and will take an overall record of 22-8 into the NCAA West Regional that begins at a to-be-determined site on Nov. 29.

The NCAA will announce its tournament field at 7 p.m. Pacific time Sunday night at www.ncaasports.com.

After CSUEB grabbed an 8-7 lead in the opening set, the Coyotes rallied with four straight points and led 11-8 on a block assist from setter Camille Smith and middle blocker Brenna McIntosh.

The Coyotes were extended in the second set, but found a way to earn the win. A kill from senior MB Mercedes Winchester put the Coyotes up 23-17. The Pioneers climbed back and the set eventually was tied at 24-24 after a Coyote attack error.

But Winchester followed up with a kill and the Coyotes won the set on a Pioneer ball handling error.
In the third and final set, the Coyotes dominated with a .381 attack percentage on 20 kills.

Trailing 14-12, sophomore Brittney Paino had two kills and two separate block assists from McIntosh and Torline keyed a 7-0 rally and the Coyotes went on to win.

Cal State East Bay ended its season at 12-17, 7-15 and was coming off a win Friday night over UC San Diego.

Smith had 42 assists with two service aces and 10 digs with three block assists.

Sophomore Jordan Ortega led in digs with 13 and sophomore Arielle McCullough kicked in 11.

The Coyotes totaled 10 team blocks with McIntosh leading in block assists with six.

MATCH NOTES: The Coyotes gave coach Kim Cherniss her 497th in her career at CSUSB... The Coyotes were ranked third in last week's NCAA regional poll. BYU Hawaii was first and Grand Canyon was second. Both Pacific West Conference members were idle this week.