Coyotes clinch tie for conference
By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - Kim Cherniss couldn't stop smiling. Winning a
conference title can do that to even a veteran coach.
The Coyotes secured at least a share of their third straight CCAA
title and the sixth in eight years, besting Cal State Los Angeles 3-0
(25-20, 25-18, 25-22) Friday at Coussoulis Arena. A win tonight and
the Coyotes will claim the title outright but that seems like just a
formality as they will be playing last-place Dominguez Hills (3-24,
2-17).
The victory also keeps the Coyotes (24-3, 16-3) first in the Pacific
Region which would assure them the right to host next week's
eight-team regional. It also avenged a loss to the Eagles earlier
this season.
``I'm ecstatic,'' said a beaming Cherniss. ``A conference title,
another banner to hang. We beat a very good team and we played well
so it feels good. We're peaking at the right time.''
The Coyotes turned in their best blocking effort of the season,
knocking down 14 total team blocks to six for the Eagles. It seemed
to be one area where Cal State wasn't as faring as well as it did
last season when it had a dominant blocker in Sharea Drawn.
But Samantha Middleborn, a freshman out of Carter High School, came
up with seven block assists and two solos to lead the effort.
``We had some individual blocking but we weren't doing a good job of
team blocking and that's important. It's something we have been
making an effort to focus on and it showed.''
It was appropriate that the Coyotes closed out the match at the net.
Up 21-20 in the third set after winning the first two, Sara Rice
recorded a solo block to make it 22-20. Middleborn and junior setter
Sara Hoffman teamed up for one seconds later against Eagles 6-foot-1
standout Gabriela Bulawczyk.
Middlborn blocked a tip by Mary Laupepa to give the Coyotes a match
point and they wasted no time converting with Jessica Granados lining
a winner off the Eagles block.
``We have been working hard on our blocking and it was nice to come
up big against a big team,'' Middleborn said. ``We took what we have
been doing in practice and brought it out here.''
The Coyotes hit a solid .293 on the night with Granados notching 14
kills in 28 attacks. Sophomore Jane Chafeh added 10, seven of those
coming in the final game. Rice contributed eight. Hoffman had 37
assists and Meghan Haas a team-high 11 digs.
The Coyotes held the Eagles (20-6, 13-6) to a .192 average, Bulawczyk
had 12 but took 32 total attacks.
The loss was as costly to the Eagles as it was beneficial to the
Coyotes. They are sixth in the region and very much on the bubble of
making the playoff field. It won't get easier as the Eagles face a
must-win tonight at Cal Poly Pomona (17-7, 14-5).
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - Kim Cherniss couldn't stop smiling. Winning a
conference title can do that to even a veteran coach.
The Coyotes secured at least a share of their third straight CCAA
title and the sixth in eight years, besting Cal State Los Angeles 3-0
(25-20, 25-18, 25-22) Friday at Coussoulis Arena. A win tonight and
the Coyotes will claim the title outright but that seems like just a
formality as they will be playing last-place Dominguez Hills (3-24,
2-17).
The victory also keeps the Coyotes (24-3, 16-3) first in the Pacific
Region which would assure them the right to host next week's
eight-team regional. It also avenged a loss to the Eagles earlier
this season.
``I'm ecstatic,'' said a beaming Cherniss. ``A conference title,
another banner to hang. We beat a very good team and we played well
so it feels good. We're peaking at the right time.''
The Coyotes turned in their best blocking effort of the season,
knocking down 14 total team blocks to six for the Eagles. It seemed
to be one area where Cal State wasn't as faring as well as it did
last season when it had a dominant blocker in Sharea Drawn.
But Samantha Middleborn, a freshman out of Carter High School, came
up with seven block assists and two solos to lead the effort.
``We had some individual blocking but we weren't doing a good job of
team blocking and that's important. It's something we have been
making an effort to focus on and it showed.''
It was appropriate that the Coyotes closed out the match at the net.
Up 21-20 in the third set after winning the first two, Sara Rice
recorded a solo block to make it 22-20. Middleborn and junior setter
Sara Hoffman teamed up for one seconds later against Eagles 6-foot-1
standout Gabriela Bulawczyk.
Middlborn blocked a tip by Mary Laupepa to give the Coyotes a match
point and they wasted no time converting with Jessica Granados lining
a winner off the Eagles block.
``We have been working hard on our blocking and it was nice to come
up big against a big team,'' Middleborn said. ``We took what we have
been doing in practice and brought it out here.''
The Coyotes hit a solid .293 on the night with Granados notching 14
kills in 28 attacks. Sophomore Jane Chafeh added 10, seven of those
coming in the final game. Rice contributed eight. Hoffman had 37
assists and Meghan Haas a team-high 11 digs.
The Coyotes held the Eagles (20-6, 13-6) to a .192 average, Bulawczyk
had 12 but took 32 total attacks.
The loss was as costly to the Eagles as it was beneficial to the
Coyotes. They are sixth in the region and very much on the bubble of
making the playoff field. It won't get easier as the Eagles face a
must-win tonight at Cal Poly Pomona (17-7, 14-5).
About Michelle
Michelle Gardner has been a staff writer for The Sun and the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin since 2002 and has covered the local college sports scene since 2004. She ventured West after working at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale for eight years and is a graduate of the University of Florida.
E-mail Michelle here.
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