LA JOLLA (Nov. 19, 2015) — It's a sure thing that if coach
Kim Cherniss checked her to-do list for Thursday night's CCAA Tournament match against Stanislaus State, her squad met each requirement:
- Operate at a high rate at the net — The Coyotes hit their second-best attack percentage of the season (.403)
- Win the blocking battle — Three solos, 17 assists
- Serve well — Seven service aces
Check, check, and check. Thanks to those efforts, the 19
th-ranked and second seed Coyotes rolled past No. 7 Stanislaus State 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-16) in the opening round of the tournament.
Behind All-CCAA MB
Malika O'Brien's 11 kills and the all-round play of sophomore OH
Lauren Nicholson (eight kills, four service aces and three block assists), CSUSB (25-4 overall) advances to Friday's semifinals against either UC San Diego or Cal State L.A. at 7:30 p.m. at UCSD's RIMAC Arena.
There would be no replay of the match these two teams played two weeks ago with the Warriors earning their first win over the Coyotes in 16 seasons. CSUSB went to town early and often and played at a high efficiency rate, and thanks to Nicholson's serving in the third set, there would be no upset on this night on the campus located off the Pacific Ocean.
O'Brien, Nicholson and four-time All-CCAA standout
Alexandra Torline each had three kills in the opening set as CSUSB hit .476 and let from the outset.
More of the same took place in the second, only this time O'Brien, Nicholson and senior OH
Ashley Solis pounded out four kills apiece.
CSUSB trailed 11-10 in the third and earned sideout after an attack error that tied the set. That's when Nicholson earned serve and she promptly crushed an ace that set the tone for eight straight points. O'Brien had two kills and a solo block and Solis had a pair of kills that put the Coyotes in complete control and ahead 19-11.
Senior
Kaitlyn Christner rolled on the defense with six block assists and two solo blocks, while Nicholson led with eight digs and Torline followed with seven.
Freshman All-CCAA setter
Jayann DeHoog dished out 29 assists with four kills in as many attacks and helped boost her team with four digs and two block assists.
Torline and Solis also had two block assists apiece.
Stanislaus State ended its season 16-11.
