SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - #10 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball recovered from an opening-set loss and defeated Cal State Monterey Bay in five sets Friday evening at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena. Set scores were 16-25, 25-15, 25-16, 23-25 and 15-9.
With the victory, the Coyotes improved to 15-2 overall and 6-1 in CCAA play.
CSUSB led 7-4 in the first set before Cal State Monterey Bay scored six straight points to move ahead 10-7. The Coyotes later pulled within one at 17-16, but the Otters closed the set on an 8-0 run behind four service aces from Malia Peterson. CSUSB hit .107 with nine kills and six errors, while Monterey Bay recorded 11 kills on .333 hitting.
Junior McKenna Edwards served the first five points of the second set, recording three aces while senior Allison Legates and junior Kisa Sagiao combined for two blocks. The Coyotes extended their lead to 9-2 behind consecutive kills from Sagiao, senior Kacie Pedersen and Legates.
Monterey Bay never got closer than five points the rest of the set. CSUSB held the Otters to five kills and forced seven attack errors for a -.077 hitting percentage. Sagiao finished with three kills and three total blocks, while Pedersen added three kills.
The third set was tied at 7-7 before the Coyotes scored three straight points, including consecutive kills by freshman Lilly Hartman. After the Otters pulled within 10-9, CSUSB used a 7-0 run on sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers' serve to build a 17-9 advantage. Junior Sarai Ross had three kills during the stretch, while Sobers recorded two aces.
The Coyotes limited Monterey Bay to another negative hitting percentage at -.083 and finished with four service aces in the 25-16 win.
CSUSB trailed 19-14 in the fourth set before scoring six consecutive points on Edwards' serve. The run included a kill and two blocks by senior M'Kera Drake, an Edwards ace and a Ross kill. The Coyotes moved ahead 23-22 on a Sagiao kill, but Monterey Bay answered with the final three points to force a fifth set.
The Otters opened a 6-3 lead in the deciding set before CSUSB responded with seven straight points. Sagiao and Pedersen each had two kills during the run, Ross added an ace and Legates combined with Ross for a block.
Monterey Bay cut the margin to 10-8, but the Coyotes scored five of the final six points. Pedersen ended the match with consecutive kills, giving her five in the fifth set. CSUSB held the Otters to three kills and a .000 hitting percentage in the frame.
The Coyotes finished with 53 kills, 11 service aces and an 11-8 advantage in total blocks. They held Monterey Bay to a .115 hitting percentage, including negative marks in the second and third sets.
Pedersen led CSUSB with 15 kills, while Ross and Sagiao recorded 12 apiece. Sagiao hit .474, and Legates finished with eight kills on .538 hitting and six total blocks. Edwards totaled 32 assists, nine digs and four aces, while junior Jaiden Van Horn added 10 assists. Sobers led the Coyotes with 12 digs and contributed two aces.
CSUSB continues its homestand Saturday against Menlo. First serve for the Homecoming contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Kim Cherniss Court at Coussoulis Arena.
