SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - For the 11th-straight year, the Central Washington University volleyball team will appear in the NCAA West Regional, and for the second time this season, the team's opponent will be the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes.
It was only a year ago the Wildcats made the trip to Bellingham, Wash. as the seventh seed in the regional tournament. In four sets, the Crimson and Black upset the tournament host, Western Washington. The 'Cats will look to repeat history and spoil CSUSB's national championship hopes on their home court this Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.
vs. Cal State San Bernardino
Coussoulis Arena
San Bernardino, Calif.
WATCH
LIVE STATS
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"San Bernardino is the perennial powerhouse in the west and Kim always has her teams ready especially at this time of the year We know the effort it will take to beat them and that it will require us to be better than we have been all year. I also know they aren't taking us lightly so they will be ready."
ABOUT THE COYOTES
Making their 23rd-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II West Regional, CSUSB is coached by Kim Cherniss who led the Coyotes to a 24-4, 15-3 CCAA record.
The Coyotes have won 14 of their last 15 games, including victories over Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Los Angeles to earn their sixth CCAA championship in the past seven seasons. The only loss they suffered in that stretch came to Sonoma State. CSUSB struggled with the Seawolves of Sonoma State all year, losing all three matchups between the sides.
An All-CCAA First Team selection in her freshman year, Trinity Sheridan has powered the Coyotes attack. Her 3.77 kills per set on a .335 hitting percentage leads CSUSB. Savannah Hoffman, Jenna Patton, and Ashley Robinson are also dangerous hitters, each tallying over 200 kills on the season. Marlee Nunley, another All-CCAA First Team member, primarily handles the setting duties, recording 8.75 assists per frame.
Libero Shira Lahav captains the backend for the Coyotes. Her 4.07 digs per set and .954 reception percentage earned her the CCAA's Libero of the Year honor. The blocking leaders for CSUSB are Patton and Taryn King, both who average 1.07 blocks per frame.
Back on Sept. 1, the Wildcats faced the Coyotes in the Yotes Classic Showcase, CSUSB's preseason tournament. In a back-and-forth match, the Wildcats fell in five sets (23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 10-15).
Both teams traded the first four frames. In the fifth set, CWU jumped out to an early 5-1 lead before CSUSB came roaring back. Up 8-6, the Coyotes took seven of the next eight points as the 'Cats fell behind 9-13. CSUSB closed it out with a pair of kills.
For the Wildcats,
Kylie Thorne and
Scottie Ellsworth led the team with 12 kills each.
Tia Andaya had 41 assists and
Hannah Stires had 22 digs, both team-leading numbers.
Emma Daoud-Hebert also had a big performance with 10 kills and five blocks.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats were last in action a couple of weekends ago, earning a pair of road sweeps at Simon Fraser and Western Washington to conclude the regular season and a second place finish in the GNAC. The 'Cats ended conference play on an eight-game winning streak. On Monday, Nov. 20, the team earned their 11th-straight NCAA Division II West Region Tournament bid, securing their game against CSUSB this Thursday.
