The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Volleyball
block by King and junior outside hitter Savannah Hoffmann ended the set.
The Yotes’ serve receive broke down in the second set, as Cal Poly Pomona registered six aces en route to leveling the match. Junior outside hitter Samantha Campion served up three straight aces to help the Broncos take a 16-11 lead. Junior outside hitter Madison Novak and senior opposite hitter Daisy Duke had four kills apiece for Cal Poly Pomona that set.
Cal Poly Pomona, ranked No. 13 in the nation in Division II, raced to a 6-1 led in the third set. Cherniss used a timeout to settle things down.
“I don’t know if it’s printable,” Cherniss said with a smile when asked what she told her players during that break.
Whatever was said worked, as the No. 14-ranked Yotes answered with a 9-3 run to take the lead. Senior middle blocker Jenna Patton was having a quiet night offensively to that point, but she erupted for six kills during the third set. Novak did her best to keep Cal Poly Pomona
within striking distance with six kills of her own in the frame.
Cal Poly Pomona responded with a 5-1 run at the start of the fourth set and never trailed en route to forcing a fifth set. Duke and Novak combined for nine kills that frame to help the Broncos once again even up the match.
Cal State San Bernardino senior setter Marlee Nunley finished with 35 assists and kept things balanced on offense. Robinson and Hoffmann had 13 kills apiece, while Patton and freshman opposite hitter Trinity Sheridan each added 10 kills.
“I trust all my hitters and
know they will put the ball away,” said Nunley, who also recorded 14 digs and four block assists. “I just have to put the ball up there nice and clean for them to hit. They all did a great job today.”
Shira Lahav, a graduate student and libero from Israel, had 18 digs and a team-high three aces for Cal State San Bernardino.
Cal Poly Pomona had the match leaders in kills (Novak, 19), assists (junior setter Catie Mueller, 42), digs (junior libero Avery Percival, 22) and aces (Campion, 5). Duke finished with 12 kills, while Campion recorded 10 kills and 19 digs.