SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - #8 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball earned a 3-0 victory over Stanislaus State on Thursday evening at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena. Set scores were 25-20, 25-17, and 25-15.
With the victory, the Coyotes improved to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in CCAA play.
Stanislaus State built an 8-3 advantage in the opening set before CSUSB began working back into the frame. Senior Kacie Pedersen recorded four kills during a 5-1 stretch that pulled the Coyotes within 9-8.
CSUSB still trailed 16-13 before senior Allison Legates served four straight points, including an ace and a block by junior Kisa Sagiao and senior M'Kera Drake. After the Warriors tied the score at 17-17, the Coyotes scored six consecutive points behind Sagiao's serve to move ahead 23-17. Pedersen had three kills during the run, and Drake closed the set with a kill.
Pedersen recorded eight of CSUSB's 17 kills in the opening set and hit .462 on 13 attempts. Junior Sarai Ross added four kills, while the Coyotes held Stanislaus State to a .091 hitting percentage.
The second set featured five ties through the opening 14 points. CSUSB broke a 7-7 tie with kills by Ross and Pedersen, then extended its lead to 15-11 on another Pedersen kill. The Warriors pulled within three at 15-12, but the Coyotes maintained control and later built a 21-14 advantage.
Freshman Lilly Hartman recorded five kills without an error on six attempts in the set. Pedersen also had five kills on eight swings, while Ross added four kills. CSUSB finished with 18 kills and three errors on 33 attempts for a .455 hitting percentage and sided out on 14 of Stanislaus State's 17 serves.
The Coyotes opened the third set with a 5-0 run behind the serve of junior McKenna Edwards. Ross had three kills during the stretch, while Edwards added two service aces to give CSUSB a 6-1 lead.
Stanislaus State pulled within 9-5, but the Coyotes answered with five straight points. Sagiao started the run with consecutive kills, and Legates followed with two service aces. CSUSB later led 21-12 before completing the sweep on Sagiao's fifth kill of the set.
The Coyotes finished with 49 kills and a .264 hitting percentage while holding the Warriors to 23 kills and a .104 mark. CSUSB also recorded advantages in service aces, 8-2, and digs, 54-33.
Pedersen led all players with 13 kills and added 11 digs. Ross finished with 12 kills on .435 hitting, while Hartman recorded eight kills on .385 hitting. Sagiao also had eight kills, three blocks, and six digs.
Edwards totaled 24 assists, six digs, and three service aces. Junior Jaiden Van Horn added 14 assists, sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers had a match-high 15 digs, and Legates finished with three aces.
The Coyotes will remain home to face Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena.
