Box Score SAN BERNARDINO – It was evident early in the third set that a locker room discussion from head coach Kim Cherniss was taken to heart by the No. 16 Coyotes in their Friday night match against upstart Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
Tied at 1-1, the Coyotes came out on fire in the third and fourth set and earned a spirited 3-1 victory over the Otters at CSUSB's Den in CCAA volleyball.
 
Junior Tori May came up huge in the victory with a match-high 14 kills on a .550 attack percentage and added two solo blocks for good measure in the 25-21, 18-25, 25-15, 25-7 victory.
 
The win marked CSUSB's ninth straight and extends their record to 12-4, and on top of the CCAA at unscathed 8-0.
 
After earning the opening set with May's six kills and sophomore Kaitlyn Christner's five, the Otters took command in the second set.
 
CSUMB pulled away for good in the early going, grabbing 6-4 lead on a Jessica Malcolm's kill. The Coyotes got to within four – 14-10 – on a kill from Alexandra Torline, but the Otters gained momentum back on their side and utilized an 8-3 run and led 22-13.
 
After the break, it was all Coyotes, who held the Otters to a minus-.100 on the attack (4 kills, 7 errors, 30 attacks). There was just one tied and no lead change in the set.
 
It was a team effort in the third set as four different Coyotes had three kills each – Danielle Newcombe, May, Stephanie Sinohui and Alexandra Torline. Christner added two in the win.
 
And there was no doubt about the Coyotes' effort in the fourth. They owned a perfect 8-of-8 sideouts, never trailed and enjoyed a 13-2 run that put the score at 19-5.
 
Christner had 12 kills on the night and Torline added 11 for the Coyotes, who have now defeated CSUMB 20 consecutive times.
 
Sophomore Brenna McIntosh had three service aces and three solo blocks.
 
Cherniss received equal distribution from the setter position with Sinohui's 24 assists and freshman Hannah Liserra, who had 19.
 
Junior L Arielle McCullough was big on the defensive end with a match-high 17 digs.
 
The Otters (11-5, 5-3) were led by Jessica Malcolm's 12 kills.
 
CSUSB concludes the weekend Saturday at home against Cal State East Bay. The match is scheduled for the Den.