LA JOLLA (Nov. 21, 2015) – The seeds proved true in the inaugural CCAA Tournament and the Coyotes and top-seed Sonoma State battled back and forth in the title match.
But regular season champion Sonoma State was the one standing tall Saturday night, defeating the Coyotes 3-2 for the tournament title and the automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
The top two teams in the CCAA met for the second time this season, this one on a neutral court, but the outcome was the same. The Coyotes head into next week's NCAA tourney at 26-5 overall and the victory was a key one for 17
th-ranked Sonoma State, now 26-3 overall.
The Coyotes won the first set 26-24 and the third set 25-19, but couldn't put away the Seawolves, who won the second set at 25-23 and the fourth set 25-19 to set up the pivotal fifth set. After being tied at 7-7, the Seawolves pulled ahead and finished off CSUSB 15-10.
Caylie Seitz, the CCAA's player of the year, made the kill on the 15th and final point of the night and finished with a match-high 21 kills on .300 hitting to lead Sonoma State. All-CCAA first-teamer
Alexandra Torline led the Coyotes with 20 kills, two service aces, 14 digs and five block assists.
Sonoma State had 206 attacks and a .233 hitting percentage, while the Coyotes had just 173 attacks on a .260 hitting percentage. SSU led in kills, 76-63, but also in attack errors with 28 to CSUSB's 18.
Backing up Torline was
Malika O'Brien with 16 kills on .560 hitting, one solo black and seven block assists.
Ashley Solis had 12 kills, 14 digs and five block assists.
Lauren Nicholson finished with 11 kills and 13 digs.
Kaitlyn Christner totaled 15 digs, two solo blocks and six block assists for CSUSB.
Freshman setter
Jayann DeHoog logged 53 assists and a team-high 17 digs.
Helping out Seitz for the Seawolves were Lexi Reddick with 13 kills and 13 digs, Madelyn Densberger with 12 kills and 11 digs, Kelsey Mcintyre with 10 kills, two solo blocks and two block assists, Courtney Seda with 33 assists, and Caitlin Connolly with a match-high 28 digs.
Both teams will await the announcement of seeding for the eight-team West Regional at 4:30 p.m. PST Monday at
www.ncaasports.com.
