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

SAN BERNARDINO -- Middle blockers Mercedes Winchester and Brenna McIntosh put the block in their position name and that paved the way for the 25th-ranked Coyotes, who defeated Sonoma State 3-1 in CCAA volleyball Friday night at Coussoulis Arena.

The victory kept the Coyotes on top of the CCAA lead at 16-3 and 19-8 overall heading into Saturday night's match against San Francisco State. First serve is 7:00 p.m.

CSUSB threw down 18 total blocks on the night -- 30 block assists and three solo -- as it earned the 25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 28-26 victory.

Winchester dominated with nine block assists and one solo, and her freshman teammate McIntosh helped the Coyotes' cause with six block assists and one solo.

Winchester also led on the attack with 11 kills on a .524 effort (11 kills, no errors, 21 attacks).

CSUSB opened the first set in control by leading from the outset and hit a match-best .312 on the attack. But SSU came right back in the second to tie the match at 1-1 with 16 kills.

The third set featured 10 ties and four lead changes with the final tie at 22-22.

Block assists from McIntosh and freshman Ashley Solis put the Coyotes up 23-22 and a kill from McIntosh pushed the Coyotes to set point.

Coach Kim Cherniss then sent in freshman setter Kirsten Edgemon to serve and the decision paid off as the Coyotes earned the set victory on a block from freshman Alexandra Torline and McIntosh.

In the decisive fourth set, Winchester had four block assists and three kills as CSUSB rallied late with a successive points after the set was tied at 26-26.

The victory stretched the Coyotes' success streak against Sonoma State to 32 consecutive.

Senior Camille Smith had 30 assists and six block assists. Torline pitched in with eight kills, as did McIntosh.

Sophomore libero Arielle McCullough had 13 digs.

Caylie Sather led Sonoma State (19-8, 13-6) with 16 kills.