The No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino volleyball team (24-0, 19-0) wrapped up its sixth straight CCAA championship and the ninth in 11 years by beating Sonoma State 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 28-26) at Coussoulis Arena.
Their dominance in recent years has been impressive. Last year the Coyotes won the conference by a whopping six matches which is pretty much unheard of. It looks like they’re going to win it by nearly that many again this season.
Part of that is the Coyotes talent and the fact that they have a veteran team with nine seniors, many of whom have played their whole careers together. But the conference as a whole has also been a bit down the last two years.
The Coyotes should be No. 1 in the next national poll due to come out on Monday. Minnesota-Duluth, who was No. 1 last week, lost a match earlier this week to reigning national champion Concordia St. Paul.
The Coyotes moving up to No. 1 and being undefeated can’t do anything but help their chances at securing hosting rights to this year’s Ellite Eight. The biggest factor not in Cal State’s favor is that the NCAA seems to go out of its way to not give the tournament to the West. The last time a West team hosted was in 2003 when the Coyotes did so.
Another factor in Cal State’s favor is the draw. One would think the NCAA wants to give it to a school that has a decent shot at reaching the final and this year the draw is set up for the Coyotes to do so. The Coyotes wouldn’t play the Central Region winner – be it Duluth or Concordia – until the championship match.
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