SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.- The Wildcat volleyball team (0-2) continued their run at the Yotes Classic Showcase, taking on the hosting 19^th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes (2-0). The Wildcats again showed a lot of fight, taking the highly ranked Coyotes to a fifth set, but fell 2-3 (23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 10-15). The Wildcats look to capitalize on the promising showings thus far getting their shot against two more ranked opponents tomorrow in Cal State Los Angeles and Regis. 
 
 
A WORD FROM COACH
 
When asked about his team's performance today, Head Coach Mario Andaya said: "I saw some good things to build on today and good competitive play from everyone. We made nice plays to extend the match, and again created some chances to win some sets. CSUSB had more offense in key times, and we just didn't match that. It was a good match to be in this early in the season."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Kylie Thorne and Scottie Ellsworth led the offense with 12 kills each. Emma Daoud-Hebert had 10 kills, as well as 2 aces, which also matched Thorne and Ashley Kaufman who each had two aces of their own. Tia Andaya had another stellar showing with 41 assists. On defense, Hannah Stires brought out the shovel with 22 digs, while Morgan Halady led the team with 7 blocks. 
 
SET 1
 
The first set started well for the Cats, with a pair of aces by Tia Andaya, and a couple service errors by the Coyotes saw the Wildcats off to a 4-1 lead. Things evened up at 5-5 with the Yotes going on a four-point unanswered streak. The set went back and forth from there, with CWU taking an 18-15 lead, and seeing the teams knot it up at 20 apiece shortly after. A late rally from CSUSB allowed them to take a 23-21 lead and set them up to take home the first set 25-23.
 
SET 2
 
CWU started the next set hot, jumping out to a quick 7-1 lead after six attack errors by Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes took a timeout and went right back to business going on a 10-4 run to tie it up again at 11. The pendulum swung back, and this time it was the Cats going on a seven-point run guided by three kills from Ellsworth, and two aces from Kaufman growing the CUW lead to 18-11. The Cats were able to cruise from there, with kills by Thorne, Stires, and Andaya closing this set out at 25-21. 
 
SET 3
 
The third set started out with a pairkills by Thorne, but were quickly matched by CSUSB making it 2-3. The 'Cats battled hard tying the game at eight apiece. The Coyotes took the ball and ran away, winning five of the next six points to take the 13-9. Scottie Ellsworth and two of her kills kept the Wildcats in the game, who were trailing 13-17. The Coyotes went on a late run, scoring four straight to take a 21-13 lead, setting them up for the 2-1 match lead winning the set 25-16. 
 
SET 4
 
With the match on the line the Wildcats looked to stay alive and force a fifth set, but CSUSB wouldn't make it easy. An early ace by Hannah Stires, and 4 kills by the Wildcats kept the game within reach, with CWU trailing 5-9. The 'Cats battled back with the help of some errors by the Coyotes tying things up at 10. Shortly after, the Coyotes scored three straight points and the Wildcats found themselves trailing again, this time 13-15, paving the way for Thorne to able to serve back to back aces to tie the game at 15, continuing the battle. At 18-19, the Wildcats were able to string together three points, behind kills by Kaufman and Halady, taking a 21-19 lead. Kills by Daoud-Hebert and Thorne sealed the deal for CWU as they never quit or lost focus in the back-and-forth affair 25-23.
 
SET 5
 
The all-important fifth set started well for CWU, with two kills by Scottie Ellsworth, and one from Tia Andaya setting them up with a 6-2 lead. Some key timed monstrous 7-1 run by the Coyotes saw the Wildcats fall behind 10-13.  The Yotes would maintain their lead for the 10-15 score in set five seeing the Coyotes secure the 2-3 victory. 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats close out the Yotes Classic Showcase with a pair of matches tomorrow, first taking on the 9^th-ranked Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles at noon before a showdown with the 18^th-ranked Regis Rangers at 5:00 p.m.