POMONA, Calif. - #9 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball earned a 3-1 road victory over #14 Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday afternoon at Kellogg Arena. Set scores were 25-20, 26-24, 22-25, and 27-25.
With the victory, the Coyotes improved to 18-2 overall and 9-1 in CCAA play.
After the teams split the opening two points, CSUSB scored five straight to take a 6-1 lead in the first set. The run included two kills by senior Kacie Pedersen, along with kills from junior Sarai Ross, senior Allison Legates, and junior Kisa Sagiao.
The Coyotes extended their advantage to 18-8 before the Broncos cut the margin to four at 23-19. Freshman Lilly Hartman answered with a kill, and CSUSB closed the set at 25-20. The Coyotes hit .500 with 18 kills and two errors, while Pedersen recorded seven kills and Hartman added four on four attempts.
CSUSB opened the second set with four straight points behind the serve of junior McKenna Edwards, but Cal Poly Pomona responded and built a 15-10 lead. The Coyotes erased the deficit with a 6-1 run, which included a Pedersen kill and a block by Sagiao and senior M'Kera Drake.
Neither team led by more than two points the rest of the set. Ross gave CSUSB a 24-23 advantage with a kill, and after the Broncos tied the score, consecutive blocks by Sagiao and the combination of Sagiao and Drake secured the 26-24 win. CSUSB held Cal Poly Pomona to a .086 hitting percentage in the set.
The third set featured 15 ties and five lead changes. With the score even at 18-18, the Broncos used a 5-1 run to move ahead 23-19. CSUSB pulled within 24-22 on a Drake kill and a block by Drake and Ross, but Cal Poly Pomona closed the set on the next point.
CSUSB responded by hitting .421 with 17 kills and only one error in the fourth set. The teams were tied 19-19 before kills by Legates and Sagiao helped the Coyotes build a 22-20 advantage. Cal Poly Pomona pulled even at 23-23 and again at 25-25, but Ross put CSUSB ahead with her sixth kill of the set before a Bronco attack error completed the 27-25 victory.
The Coyotes finished with a .299 hitting percentage and held Cal Poly Pomona to .223. CSUSB also recorded a 13-8 advantage in total blocks.
Ross led the Coyotes with 18 kills on .382 hitting and added five blocks. Pedersen finished with 16 kills and nine digs, while Legates recorded nine kills on .421 hitting and five blocks. Drake had seven kills without an error and six blocks, while Hartman added seven kills on eight attempts.
Edwards totaled 31 assists, 11 digs, and four service aces. Jaiden Van Horn added 14 assists, and Haedyn Heyes finished with a team-high 12 digs.
CSUSB returns home Thursday to host Stanislaus State at 5 p.m. at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena.
