Will MacNeil

Volleyball

Golden Eagles survive in five

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The Cal State LA and Cal State San Bernardino matchup lived up to the hype and then some in one of the best opening-round matches in the history of the CCAA Volleyball Tournament. The battle between teams that have won two of the last four NCAA Championships was inevitably decided in five sets, and it was the Golden Eagles coming away with the 25-21, 19-25, 20-25, 29-27, and 15-9 win (Nov. 21).
 
Emily Elliott had a match-best 27 kills, 14 digs, two blocks, and four aces for her sixth double-double. Samarah DaCoud posted her own double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. Haley Roundtree added 12 kills and led all hitters with a .304 hitting percentage.
 
No. 4 seed Cal State LA jumped out to the quick lead with a strong opening set while holding No. 5 seed CSUSB to a .036 hitting percentage. The Coyotes answered by hitting .385 in the second set and carrying that advantage through the third to go up 2-1.
 
The fourth set was an epic showdown between the two teams and it took extra points to decide. The Golden Eagles went in front 21-17 before CSUSB rallied to tie the match at 22-22. The Coyotes then went up 24-23 and had multiple game points, but LA answered each time to tie the set. In the end, the Golden Eagles were down 27-26 before rallying for three consecutive points to close the set 29-27.
 
Cal State LA carried that momentum through to the fifth set. It scored the first two points and would never trail. The Golden Eagles would go up 6-2 and 11-5 before finishing with a 15-9 win.
 
Savannah Hoffmann led Cal State San Bernardino with 12 kills, and Ashley Robinson added a double-double with 11 kills, 10 digs, six blocks, and two aces.
 
This is only CSUSB's third loss in the nine-year history of the CCAA Volleyball Tournament. Despite the loss, the Coyotes are still 18-3 all-time in CCAA tournament play (six titles).
 
The win sends Cal State LA to the semifinals of the CCAA Volleyball Tournament, where it will face the No. 1 seed, Cal Poly Pomona, on Friday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m.