Coyotes Brilliant Once More to Move a Step Closer to Program's First National Crown in Mile High City
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DENVER - Cal State San Bernardino suffered a slight hiccup in the second frame but was largely in control otherwise as it moved within one win of its first national title by dispatching Regis, 3-1, in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championship on Friday night. Set scores were 25-18, 22-25, 25-17 and 25-17.
The national quarterfinals, semifinals and final are being held inside the Auraria Event Center on the campus of MSU Denver, co-hosting alongside the Denver Sports Commission.
Playing in front of a pro-Regis crowd of 691 fans with that university also in Denver less than 10 miles away, Cal State San Bernardino was undeterred from its objective.
The Coyotes, CCAA regular-season and tournament double champions, as well as West Region victors, were appearing in their first national semifinal since a runner-up effort in 2011.
The NCAA reseeded the remaining eight squads after the regional finals, with Cal State San Bernardino, the nation’s top-ranked team, earning the top seed, and Regis at No. 4. All six matches in Denver this week have been won by the higher seed.
Friday’s semifinal results set up what has for weeks seemingly been the inevitable championship matchup, between the last two undefeated teams in Division II women’s volleyball. Cal State San Bernardino, at 32-0, will face second-ranked and second-seeded Nebraska-Kearney, which moved to 38-0 with a 3-1 victory earlier in the evening over Rockhurst. Saturday’s first serve is set for 4 p.m. PT from Auraria Event Center. Live video and live stats
can be accessed for free at NCAA.com.
The Coyotes and Lopers have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the AVCA national poll for each of the past six editions. Regis was No. 11 in the latest one on Nov. 25.
No matter the outcome, Saturday will conclude with an undefeated, first-time national champion. A Coyote victory would mean the CCAA’s sixth title in volleyball, the previous five all in the 1980s courtesy of teams that eventually moved to Division I. Cal State Bakersfield was the most recent back in 1989.
Saturday will mark a momentous day in the CCAA, with regular-season men’s soccer champion Cal State LA, also undefeated at 19-0-3, playing for its first national title as well at Noon PST in Pittsburgh against Charleston (WV)
on NCAA.com.
| National Semifinal: No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino 3, No. 4 Regis 1 |
Box Score |
CSUSB postgame |
RU postgame
Cal State San Bernardino used a Regis error on the night’s first serve to take a 4-1 lead, and got its next two points from unanimous National Player of the Year Alexis Cardoza through her first kill and a combination block with redshirt sophomore middle Jalyn Hayes. The junior outside hitter later handled the overpass for an 11-8 edge, and then hit a crosscourt kill for 12-9. Another Cardoza kill forced Regis into the contest’s first timeout.
Out of that break, a double block by Hayes and Mikaela Grove was followed by back-to-back aces by CCAA Libero of the Year Leilia To’omalatai. One more Cardoza kill and To’omalatai ace grew the run to 7-0, with the junior serving six of those points, and the bulge to 18-9. The Coyotes continued to dominate the initial frame and an ace by freshman setter Marlee Nunley got them to 20 at 20-10. They got a combo block by Hayes and senior Stephanie Doak, and cruised to the 25-18 win.
Cal State San Bernardino had just nine kills in that opener, but was buoyed by four total blocks and four aces. Cardoza had seven of those kills, and Doak the other two.
Regis began the second set with its first lead of the night, going up 2-0 before a long service put the Coyotes on the board. The Rangers flipped the script from the first set and grabbed a 4-1 lead. A combo block extended it to 5-1 as AVCA West Region and CCAA Coach of the Year Kim Cherniss used her first timeout of the match.
Who other than Cardoza brought Cal State San Bernardino out of the timeout, putting down her eighth kill already. Ahead 11-8, Regis was unable to capitalize on a free ball, and Doak partnered with Lydia Morohunfola to turn away a Ranger attack for a big point. An acrobatic set at the net by redshirt freshman Mehana Ma’a led to a Hayes kill and got the Coyotes back within one at 13-12. Regis managed to stay ahead, however, and served its first winner as Cherniss called her second timeout at 18-14.
To’omolatai kept a couple tough balls in play before a Ranger attack went wide later for 20-19, and a Cardoza kill evened things up for the first time at 20-20 as Regis finally used its first timeout of the frame. The Rangers nabbed the next four points on a service error, two hitting miscues, and a kill, to get to set point at 24-20. Though Cal State San Bernardino scored back-to-back points, Regis took its second timeout and got a Nikki Kennedy kill to take the set, 25-22, and level the match.
Despite again surrendering the first point, a 3-0 mini-run early in the third gave the Coyotes a 5-3 lead. Two more great digs by To’omalatai allowed Cardoza to pound a kill for 10-8, with Hayes wrapping a pair of kills around a Regis point to make it 12-9 at the first timeout. A solo stuff by Doak preceded a Kennedy attack error and Asia Clarke service ace for 18-13. Two huge Cardoza kills forced the Rangers’ second timeout at 20-14. The Coyotes took care of business from there to go up 2-1 in sets.
The fourth began with a thunderous kill on the left pin by Cardoza. A fourth To’omalatai ace made it 4-1, before a Ranger attack went wide to put Cal State San Bernardino in command at the outset. A solo rejection in the middle by Hayes made it 8-4 Coyotes at the first timeout. Despite Regis pulling within one at 11-10 and 12-11, Cal State San Bernardino remained ahead. Cardoza assisted Grove on a kill with a bump set for 16-12. Hayes and Moira Murphy teamed up on a stuff at the right pin, and a Cardoza ace made it 19-14 at the Rangers’ final timeout. Cardoza’s 21st kill off the block made it 23-17, Grove followed with a kill, and Regis was called in the net on a Cardoza attack as the Coyote leader fittingly ended the contest at 25-17.
Cardoza led all players in kills for the second night in a row with her 22, and made it her 15th double-double of 2019 with 13 digs. She eclipsed 20 kills for the fifth time this year, on 54 attacks (.315), adding three blocks, two of them solo, an ace and an assist. Hayes contributed 10 kills on .421 hitting to go along with her match-high seven total blocks. To’omalatai wound up with 20 digs and the four aces, both match bests. The aces equaled her season high, while reaching the 20-dig mark for the second time in this NCAA Championship. Ma’a (28 assists) and Nunley (18) again split setter duties. Cal State San Bernardino hit .306 and served eight aces to two by Regis.
Regis, the Rocky RMAC regular-season and South Central Region champion, completed its campaign at 29-5. Kennedy and Kelsey Green led four Rangers in double-figure kills at 12 apiece. Silvia Basso handed out 47 assists and Caitlyn Burroway had a double-double of 10 kills and 15 digs.
The Coyotes were playing for a seventh straight match without first-team All-American middle blocker Sascha Dominique, who suffered a season-ending injury in the quarterfinals of the CCAA Tournament back on Nov. 21.
Cal State San Bernardino has finished as national runners-up in 2008 and 2011, both under Cherniss, now in her 29th season for the Coyotes. Saturday’s opponent, Nebraska-Kearney, has one previous national final appearance, falling at home to Grand Valley State in 2005.
Regis (24-23, .511) was making its 23rd NCAA Championship appearance following a one-year hiatus, with prior semifinal losses in 1988 and 1998. Nebraska-Kearney (32-23, .582) also has considerable NCAA pedigree, in its 21st straight appearance and 24th in all. The Lopers are now 2-1 in semis. Cal State San Bernardino (52-19, .732) will look Saturday to crown its milestone 20th NCAA postseason, all coming in succession since an initial run in 2000, with the big trophy.