SAN BERNARDINO, CA – From a Battle of the Packs to a 2019 National Championship Semifinal rematch, the Yotes had their work cut out for them today in The Den.
Game 1
In a back-and-forth match between the GNAC and CCAA, the Yotes and Wildcats of Central Washington University gave fans what could prove be a West Regional preview.
OH
Savannah Hoffmann capped off the first set with a 10-foot line kill. The fourth kill of the match for the junior from Rialto would send the Yotes to a gripping second set. With three blocks to begin the set, the Wildcats quickly made up for their three-point deficit in the first set and would take an early 7-1 lead but the Yotes stormed back. They strung together a pair of kills and a block to bring them within one, but the Wildcats kept the lead to take the set.
The Yotes won the third set with ease, a block by
Jenna Patton and
Trinity Sheridan giving them the 2-1 lead. It was nearly impossible to deter the Yotes in the fourth set. They had an answer for everything the Wildcats threw at them, including a block and kill by Sheridan to put the Yotes up 15-12. With the rally of the match,
Ashley Robinson tooled the block which allowed the Yotes to regain the lead, but a hitting error would force the fifth set.
The Yotes battled from start to finish, with an unlucky touch from the Wildcats giving Patton a game-tying ace.
Taryn King's solo block gave the Yotes a lead, and another block by King would give them the win in this five-set thriller.
Game 2
After giving up a lead early, the Yotes went on a run and put up a demanding 17-9 lead after two back-to-back aces by Patton. The Rangers put together a few more points to push them over the 15-point threshold but would get a service error on set point.
Sheridan swung hard and swung often. The freshman from Crystal Lake, IL was the Yote the Rangers had no answer for. In the second set alone, she recorded 12 kills on 23 swings. The Rangers would avoid the sweep after they took the lead late in the third and dropped in an ace to win the set.
Once the Yotes got going in the fourth, there was no looking back. As a team, this squad earned each and every one of their final four points to finish the match and take the 3-1 victory. With this win, the Yotes extend their all-time record against the Rangers to 6-2, the last four matchups all going in the Yotes' favor.
Not only did Sheridan's stats from game two cement her as a threat this season, but the freshman led the team in kills, finishing the day with a combined 40 kills. When asked about her 40-point day, Sheridan said, "It was absolutely surreal to be able to contribute that much towards the wins for the team. It's only the beginning of the season and our team chemistry is so solid. The love and passion we all have for the game, and our desire to win, puts us as a whole new level that I believe we can ride all the way to the championships!"
Up Next
The Yotes will close out the Yotes Classic Showcase tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM where they'll look to finish with a perfect record. For more information on the Yotes Classic Showcase, click
HERE. This match and all of the Yotes' CCAA matches will be streamed live on the CCAA Network at CCAANetwork.com.
To see the full CSUSB women's volleyball schedule, click HERE.
