Box Score     Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego took turns pummeling each other in back-to-back sets Saturday night, but the Coyotes did the pummeling in the deciding fifth set to record a 3-2 victory over the Tritons in a California Collegiate Athletic Association between two perennial NCAA West Region powers played before 333 fans in Coussoulis Arena.
    The Coyotes, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II,  squeaked out a 25-23 decision in the first set and UCSD returned the favor in set two, 25-22. The Coyotes dominated the third set, winning 25-12, but UCSD came back with a 25-17 win in the fourth set to set up a "first to 15" battle in set five. The Coyotes jumped out to a 5-0 lead off four serves by Abbey Volkhommer and never looked back, expanding the lead to 14-5 before Brenna McIntosh closed out the match with a kill off an assist by Ciana Richards, one of 55 she had on the night.
    Allie Torline led the Coyotes with 19 kills and three service aces. All-American middle blocker Tori May contributed 18 kills on 30 attacks with no errors for a .600 hitting percentage, added two service aces and four blocks. All-American middle blocker Brenna McIntosh finished with 11 kills on .524 hitting with eight blocks as the Coyotes outhit UCSD .265 to .094. Arielle McCullough finsihed with 22 digs for the Coyotes. Ashley Solis (11), Kaitlyn Christner (10) and Ashley Solis (10) were also in double figures in digs.
    Danielle Dahle led UCSD with 17 kills and nine digs while Caitlin Brenton had 11 kills, 11 digs and three service aces.  UCSD committed 33 attack errors due in part to the CSUSB defense which posted three solo blocks and 21 block assists.  
    Amoing the 333 fans watching the match were two former NCAA Division II players of the year for the Coyotes -- Kim Morohunfola (2003) and Brie Harris (2004).
    The victory snapped a rare two-match losing streak for the Coyotes who lost on the road at San Francisco State and at home to Cal Poly Pomona earlier this week. Ironically, UC San Diego has beaten all three conference foes that defeated the Coyotes this season. CSUSB is now 3-1 at home this season, raising their home record in CCAA play since the start of their eight-year reign as CCAA champions to 81-4. Since the start of the 2001 season (CSUSB's first-ever conference championship season), the Coyotes are 132-6 in CCAA matches at home.