TURLOCK, Calif. - #7 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball earned a 3-0 road victory over Stanislaus State on Friday evening at Fitzpatrick Arena. Set scores were 25-20, 25-17, and 25-18.
With the victory, the Coyotes improve to 22-2 overall and 11-1 in CCAA play.
The opening set featured 10 ties and five lead changes. Stanislaus State used a 4-0 run to take a 10-7 advantage, but CSUSB answered with kills by senior M'Kera Drake and senior Kacie Pedersen, along with a block by Pedersen and Drake, to pull even at 10-10.
The Warriors later led 15-12 before the Coyotes scored five of the next six points. Junior McKenna Edwards served three straight points during the run, including an ace and a block by junior Sarai Ross and senior Allison Legates.
After Stanislaus State tied the score at 17-17, CSUSB responded with four consecutive points to take control. Ross, Legates, and junior Kisa Sagiao recorded kills during the stretch, and the Coyotes closed the set at 25-20.
CSUSB hit .300 in the opening frame and held the Warriors to .053. Ross led the Coyotes with four kills, while Drake and Pedersen added three apiece.
The Coyotes never trailed in the second set. Stanislaus State pulled within one at 6-5, but Drake answered with a kill before Pedersen added a kill and a service ace to extend the lead to 10-7.
CSUSB later scored three straight points to move ahead 17-12 and closed the set on a 5-2 run. The Coyotes recorded 18 kills and only one attack error on 33 attempts for a .515 hitting percentage. Ross and Drake each had four kills, while Legates added three kills on three attempts.
CSUSB built an 11-7 advantage in the third set before Stanislaus State scored five straight points to take its first lead at 12-11. The Coyotes moved back in front on consecutive kills by Legates and Ross, but the teams were tied three more times, including at 18-18.
Pedersen broke the final tie with a kill and then served the last six points of the match. The closing run included two service aces, two Ross kills, a solo block by Ross, and a Stanislaus State setting error.
CSUSB finished with 44 kills and nine attack errors on 97 attempts for a .361 hitting percentage. The Coyotes hit at least .265 in all three sets and held Stanislaus State to .173 for the match.
Ross led all players with 14 kills on .355 hitting and added two blocks. Pedersen finished with eight kills, nine digs, and a match-high four service aces. Drake recorded seven kills without an error on 10 attempts, while Legates had six kills on .545 hitting.
Edwards totaled 25 assists, 10 digs, and two kills on two attempts. Junior Jaiden Van Horn added 11 assists, while sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers had nine digs and a service ace.
The Coyotes will complete the regular season Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against Chico State at Art Acker Gymnasium.
