FRESNO, Calif. - #9 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball erased a two-set deficit before falling to #4 Fresno Pacific University in five sets Friday evening at the Special Events Center. Set scores were 25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 15-25, and 15-11.
The loss was the Coyotes' first of the season, moving their record to 9-1.
Fresno Pacific used an early 5-1 run to take an 8-4 lead in the opening set and later extended the margin to 15-8. CSUSB pulled within five following consecutive kills by senior Kacie Pedersen, but the Sunbirds closed out the set.
The Coyotes were held to nine kills and a .043 hitting percentage in the first set. Seniors Allison Legates and M'Kera Drake each recorded two kills without an error.
CSUSB led for much of set two, building advantages of 11-8 and 18-14 before Fresno Pacific answered with nine consecutive points to move ahead 23-18. The Coyotes scored three straight, including a service ace by junior Jaiden Van Horn, to get within two at 23-21 before the Sunbirds took the final two points.
Junior Sarai Ross, Drake and Pedersen each recorded four kills in the second set. CSUSB totaled 15 kills and hit .205.
The third set featured 14 ties and six lead changes. Fresno Pacific led 17-13 before CSUSB pulled even at 20-20 behind kills from Ross and junior Kisa Sagiao and consecutive blocks by Drake and Sagiao.
The Sunbirds later moved ahead 24-23, but Legates tied the set with a kill before Sagiao put the Coyotes in front. A Fresno Pacific attack error completed the 26-24 win. Freshman Lilly Hartman led CSUSB with four kills on seven attempts, while Legates had three kills on five swings.
CSUSB controlled the fourth set after breaking a 4-4 tie with a 5-0 run. Pedersen served four consecutive points during the stretch, which included kills by Sagiao and Drake. The Coyotes later used a 4-0 run to extend their advantage to 19-11 and force a fifth set.
CSUSB posted its best hitting percentage of the match in the fourth, recording 13 kills and two errors on 34 attempts for a .324 mark. The Coyotes held Fresno Pacific to .023 hitting with 11 kills and 10 errors.
The Coyotes led 7-5 in the deciding set before Fresno Pacific scored five of the next six points. A Pedersen kill tied the set at 10-10, but the Sunbirds responded with a 5-1 closing run.
Pedersen led CSUSB with 16 kills and 26 digs while adding three blocks. Hartman finished with 12 kills, while Ross and Drake recorded 10 apiece. Drake hit .391 and totaled five blocks, and Legates contributed seven kills without an error for a .389 percentage.
Sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers recorded a match-high 32 digs. Van Horn finished with 28 assists, while junior McKenna Edwards added 23 assists and 13 digs.
CSUSB will continue its road trip Saturday with a 5 p.m. match against UC Merced at Hostetler Court.
