POMONA, Calif. - #23 California State University San Bernardino women's volleyball's legendary head coach Kim Cherniss earned the 800th victory of her illustrious career Friday afternoon as the Coyotes defeated #19 Simon Fraser University in five sets at the Bronco Classic inside Kellogg Arena. Set scores were 25-13, 17-25, 25-21, 18-25, and 15-13.
Cherniss becomes just the ninth coach in NCAA history, and fourth in Division II, to win 800 career games. All 800 wins have come at Cal State San Bernardino since taking over the program in 1991, and she remains the only coach in CSUSB's Division II era. During the course of her 800 wins, Cherniss has coached 62 All-Americans and six AVCA National Players of the Year, and has been named the CCAA Coach of the Year nine times. In 2019, she coached her team to an undefeated season and the NCAA Division II National Championship.
CSUSB took control of the opening set with a 12-2 run that turned a 2-2 tie into a 14-4 advantage. Freshman Analei Bradley served five straight points during the stretch, including two aces, while the Coyotes added two blocks. CSUSB hit .500 with 14 kills and three errors, led by six kills from senior Kacie Pedersen, in the 25-13 win.
Simon Fraser responded by building a 12-5 lead in the second set. The Coyotes pulled within five at 19-14, but the Red Leafs closed out a 25-17 victory while holding CSUSB to a .050 hitting percentage.
The third set was tied at 16-16 before CSUSB scored four consecutive points, including a Bradley service ace and a block from junior Sarai Ross and senior Allison Legates. Simon Fraser cut the margin to one at 21-20, but the Coyotes took four of the final five points to win 25-21. CSUSB hit .243 and totaled four blocks in the set.
After five early ties in set four, Simon Fraser used an 8-1 run to open an 18-11 lead. CSUSB later pulled within six, but the Red Leafs hit .379 with 12 kills and only one error to force a deciding set with a 25-18 win.
Ross recorded three consecutive kills to give CSUSB a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Simon Fraser erased the deficit and moved ahead 11-10 before Pedersen tied the set with a kill. The teams were even again at 12-12, but consecutive Red Leaf attack errors gave the Coyotes match point. After Simon Fraser pulled within one, Ross ended the match with her fifth kill of the set. CSUSB held the Red Leafs to a -.143 hitting percentage and recorded four blocks in the 15-13 victory.
Pedersen led all players with 19 kills on .245 hitting, while Ross finished with 14 kills and two service aces. Legates recorded five kills without an error and a match-high seven blocks. Junior McKenna Edwards had 20 assists, nine digs and three aces, while junior Jaiden Van Horn added 22 assists and 12 digs. Sophomore libero Saniyah Sobers led CSUSB with 14 digs.
The Yotes will close the Bronco Classic on Saturday against No. 21 Central Washington. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside Kellogg Arena.
