SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The #8 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball team opened its 2024 season in style on Thursday evening at the Yotes Classic Showcase at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena. Set scores were 22-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19.

With the win, Cal State San Bernardino opens its season with an overall record of 1-0.

The first set was the tightest of the four, as the teams combined for seven ties and five lead changes. The Yotes appeared to be in control after an Ashley Robinson (Tucson, Ariz.) kill midway through the first set put the hosts on top 11-7, but Seattle Pacific emerged from a timeout by going on a 7-3 run to knot the score at 14-14, forcing CSUSB to take a timeout of their own.

The two teams battled back and forth and were tied at every score from 14-14 to 21-21 except 17-all, before the Falcons went on a 4-1 run to take the early 1-0 edge. Robinson was responsible for four of Cal State San Bernardino's eight kills in the set to lead all players.

The Yotes quickly responded with a dominant set two to level the match at 1-1. Robinson went off for an astounding nine kills on 13 attacks without an error to help lift the Coyotes to the one-sided set victory. Senior Savannah Hoffmann (Rialto, Calif.) and sophomore M'Kera Drake (San Bernardino, Calif.) chipped in five and three kills respectively in the set.

CSUSB trailed early in the third set, but rallied to deliver another one-sided set score to take their first lead of the evening. After trailing 13-11, the Yotes exploded for a 10-0 run with junior Jordan Cherniss (Colton, Calif.) at the service line to take full control of the set. Moments later, the fifth kill of the set from Robinson gave the Coyotes a 25-17 set win.

The first half of set four was a tight battle between the Coyotes and Falcons, but after the teams were tied at 14, CSUSB took over by scoring 11 of the set's final 16 points to secure the season-opening win. Back-to-back Kacie Pedersen (Riverside, Calif.) kills clinched the final points of the match in favor of the hosts. She recorded five of her nine kills in the final set.

Robinson had an enormous night for the Coyotes, posting a 23-kill, 13-dig double-double. Hoffmann also turned in a strong performance with nine kills on just 17 attempts for an attack percentage of .412.

Freshman setter Jaiden Van Horn (Elk Ridge, Utah) impressed in her first collegiate match, dishing out 25 assists to go along with eight digs and three service aces.

Defensively, the Yotes were paced by Jordan Cherniss, who notched team highs of 15 digs and four blocks. Libero Jayden Chornomud (Murrieta, Calif.) finished in double figures with 11 digs of her own.

Next up for CSUSB, they will continue play with a pair of matches at the Yotes Classic Showcase on Friday. The Coyotes will play Biola at 2:30 p.m., followed by #10 St. Cloud State at 7:30 p.m.