FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball team pulled out its third consecutive five-set victory on Thursday afternoon, this time defeating Rockhurst University of Kansas City to open the Denali Ice Block Classic at Alaska Airlines Gymnasium. Set scores were 17-25, 25-18, 25-17, 20-25, 15-8.

With the victory, the Coyotes remain perfect with an early season record of 4-0.

The Coyotes struggled offensively in set number one, falling behind 1-0. The Yotes had only six kills in the set to four errors, but junior middle M'Kera Drake (San Bernardino, Calif.) was a bright spot with two kills on only two swings.

CSUSB climbed back into the match with a dominant second set performance, which saw the Coyotes hit a match-high .407 with 15 kills as a team. Juniors Allison Legates (Los Altos, Calif.) and Kacie Petersen (Riverside, Calif.) each had four kills with only one error in the set, helping the Yotes to level the score.

Pedersen continued to roll in set three, chipping in six of CSUSB's 16 kills and adding three service aces to lift the Yotes to their first lead of the match at 2-1.

Cal State San Bernardino had a negative hitting percentage in set four as the Hawks forced a decisive fifth set. No Coyote had more than two kills, despite a trio of service aces from setter Jaiden Van Horn (Elk Ridge, Utah).

An 8-0 run to extend the CSUSB lead to 10-2 early in the fifth set helped the Coyotes cruise to the victory down the stretch. Senior Abbey Clarke (Oswego, Ill.) had three consecutive service aces during the run, while Pedersen chipped in a pair of kills as well. The Hawks answered to narrow the gap to as little as four at 11-7, but the Yotes pulled back away, capping the win on a kill from Legates.

Pedersen led all players with 17 kills in the win, including four in the fifth and final set. Sophomore Kisa Sagiao (San Diego, Calif.) was the only other Coyote with double digits in kills with 10, while Legates and redshirt freshman Sarai Ross (Beaumont, Calif.) each had nine. 

Van Horn, the reigning CCAA Setter of the Week, dished out 44 assists in the win, while senior Jayden Chornomud (Canyon Lake, Calif.) led the way defensively with 16 digs.

Next up for the Coyotes, they will play a doubleheader against the NCAA's lone Alaskan institutions on Friday. They will play Alaska Anchorage at 12 p.m. Pacific, before playing Alaska Fairbanks at 8 p.m. Pacific.
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