SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - #10 California State University San Bernardino held Menlo to a negative hitting percentage and recorded 11 blocks in a 3-0 victory Saturday evening on Homecoming Night at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena. Set scores were 25-11, 25-17 and 25-10.
With the win, the Coyotes improved to 16-2 overall and 7-1 in CCAA play.
CSUSB scored the first five points of the match, getting two kills from junior Sarai Ross and one from junior Kisa Sagiao during the opening run. The Coyotes extended their lead to 10-2 following a block by Sagiao and senior M'Kera Drake.
Menlo cut the margin to six at 12-6, but CSUSB answered with a 7-2 run. Ross had a kill and combined with senior Allison Legates and freshman Lilly Hartman for two blocks during the stretch. The Coyotes scored the final five points of the set to complete the 25-11 win.
CSUSB hit .409 in the opening set with 10 kills and one attack error on 22 attempts. Ross had five kills on eight swings, while Sagiao added four kills on six attempts. The Coyotes totaled three blocks and held Menlo to five kills and a -.162 hitting percentage.
Menlo took its only lead of the match at 4-3 in the second set. Sagiao then served four consecutive points, including two aces, to put CSUSB ahead 7-4. The Coyotes later used a 3-0 run to extend their advantage to 10-5 behind kills from senior Kacie Pedersen and Ross and a Menlo attack error.
CSUSB led 15-8 after a Legates-Sagiao block and pushed the margin to 21-11 following three consecutive Menlo attack errors. Cali Tirado ended the set with a kill for the 25-17 victory.
Ross led the Coyotes with four kills in the second set, while Pedersen, Sagiao, and Hartman added two apiece. CSUSB committed only two attack errors and recorded three more blocks while limiting Menlo to a .111 hitting percentage.
The Coyotes again opened quickly in the third set, scoring the first four points and building a 9-3 lead. CSUSB later turned an 11-5 advantage into a 13-5 margin with a Hartman kill and a block from Legates and Hartman.
Sagiao accounted for three points during a 5-1 run that extended the lead to 18-7, recording two kills and combining with Legates for a block. Pedersen scored three of the final seven points, including a service ace on match point.
CSUSB hit .407 in the final set with 13 kills and two errors on 27 attempts. Ross, Pedersen, and Sagiao had three kills apiece, while the Coyotes totaled five blocks and sided out on all 11 of Menlo's serves.
The Coyotes finished with 35 kills and five attack errors for a .341 hitting percentage. CSUSB held Menlo to 25 kills and 27 errors for a -.017 percentage and finished with an 11-0 advantage in total blocks.
Ross led all players with 12 kills on .370 hitting. Sagiao finished with nine kills without an error on 13 attempts for a .692 percentage, adding four total blocks and two aces. Legates had five blocks, while Drake contributed five total blocks. Junior McKenna Edwards recorded 17 assists and junior Jaiden Van Horn added nine. Sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers led all players with 16 digs.
CSUSB returns to action Thursday at Cal State Los Angeles. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. at University Gym.
