LOS ANGELES, Calif. - #9 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball earned a five-set road victory over Cal State Los Angeles on Thursday evening at University Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-23, 19-25, 23-25, 25-16, and 15-12.
With the win, the Coyotes improved to 17-2 overall and 8-1 in CCAA play.
CSUSB trailed 15-8 in the opening set before cutting the deficit to one at 17-16. Cal State LA later led 22-20, but the Coyotes scored four straight points behind two Golden Eagle attack errors, a block from senior M'Kera Drake and junior Kisa Sagiao, and a senior Kacie Pedersen kill. Drake ended the set with CSUSB's 20th kill.
The Coyotes hit .341 in the opener. Junior Sarai Ross had five kills, while senior Allison Legates and Pedersen added four apiece. Drake recorded three kills on six attempts.
Cal State LA used a 10-1 run to take a 20-8 lead in the second set. CSUSB pulled within five at 24-19 following an 11-4 stretch, but the Golden Eagles closed the set on their next opportunity. Pedersen had four kills, while the Coyotes were limited to a .091 hitting percentage.
The third set included 12 ties and five lead changes. CSUSB moved ahead 23-21 following consecutive Cal State LA attack errors, including a Drake solo block, but the Golden Eagles scored the final four points for a 25-23 win.
CSUSB hit .385 in the set with 12 kills and two errors. Pedersen and Drake had three kills apiece, while the Coyotes totaled five blocks. Cal State LA countered with 18 kills and a .364 hitting percentage.
The Coyotes took control early in the fourth set. Leading 3-1, CSUSB scored eight consecutive points on Pedersen's serve to build an 11-1 advantage. Sagiao had three kills during the run, while Ross added two and combined with Legates for a block.
Cal State LA never got closer than seven points the rest of the set. Pedersen totaled six kills as the Coyotes hit .306 with 15 kills and held the Golden Eagles to .095 hitting.
CSUSB led 6-3 in the fifth before Cal State LA pulled even at 7-7 and 8-8. The Golden Eagles moved ahead 10-9, but the Coyotes answered with four straight points. The run included three Cal State LA attack errors, a sophomore Saniyah Sobers service ace, and a block from Legates and freshman Lilly Hartman.
After Cal State LA cut the margin to 13-12, Pedersen recorded a solo block before junior McKenna Edwards ended the match with a service ace. The Coyotes held the Golden Eagles to four kills and a -.050 hitting percentage in the deciding set.
CSUSB finished with 62 kills and a .234 hitting percentage while holding Cal State LA to .191. The Coyotes also totaled 11 blocks and held a 74-69 advantage in digs.
Pedersen led CSUSB with 19 kills and added 11 digs and three blocks. Ross finished with 14 kills, while Legates recorded nine kills on .381 hitting and four blocks. Drake had eight kills on .300 hitting and five blocks. Edwards totaled 39 assists, 13 digs, and two aces, while Sobers finished with a match-high 24 digs and three aces.
The Coyotes continue their road trip Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Kellogg Arena.
