SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Heading into round one of the NCAA West Region Championship tournament the No. 1 Yotes held a record of 9-2 against the No. 8 University of Alaska, Anchorage Seawolves. Seawolves would be hard to shake, but CSUSB took the first round 3-1.  
 
In the first set Anchorage gained the lead and held to it strongly. The Seawolves would continue to expand on that lead, taking the score to 19-13. The match looked set and done, but the Yotes slowly inched back into the game. Alexis Cardoza went for seven kills on the set and brought the Yotes back to winning position. After an energizing block by Jalyn Hayes that brought the score 22-22, CSUSB took advantage of the Seawolves uncertainty taking the set, 25-22.
 
It was apparent after the first set that Anchorage come prepared to challenge 2019 NCAA West Region champs. With a change in libero, the Yotes switched strategies for the second set. Once again, the Seawolves took lead 3-1 to start the set. Like the first set, Hayes went for another block tying the score 3-3 and then another block to take the lead, 4-3. Anchorage would not let up and took the second set, 27-25.
 
With the score tied, 1-1, the third set was a critical must win to gain momentum. The Yotes took the lead and expanded it 16-7. With the set win in sight, CSUSB continued to tighten their grip taking the lead by 11 points, 19-8. Cardoza remained consistent adding another six kills leading the Yote to their largest lead 23-9. CSUSB won the third set, 25-11.
 
Going into the fourth set, the Yotes were up 2-1 against the Seawolves. Once again, it seemed as though Anchorage had an answer for CSUSB taking the lead 5-2. It would not be long for the Yotes to have an answer back as they took the lead 14-11. Late into the night, CSUSB closed the first round of competition with a win against the Seawolves, 25-17.
 
Leading in kills for the Yotes was Cardoza who tallied 26 kills, and had five digs and four assists. Also scoring in double digits was Melissa Garciglia who collected 13 kills hitting at a .294 percentage. Hayes had brought the block party to Coussoulis Arena, with eight blocks on the match and had nine kills. Jenna Patton also collected nine kills on the match, and had four service aces and four digs.
 
The Yotes continue their 2021 West Region Championship journey tomorrow in Coussoulis Arena at 7:30 pm.