Epic Upset Bid Falls Short in 3-2 Toro Loss at No. 14 CS San Bernardino

Box Score

SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State Dominguez Hills nearly pulled the upset of the year after taking a two-sets-to-none lead at No. 14 and now eight-time CCAA Champion Cal State San Bernardino, but the Coyote resolve proved too tough as CSUSB forged a 21-25, 19-25, 25-17, 25-11, 15-12 win over the upset-minded and suddenly resurgent Toros, snapping CSUDH's three-match win streak.

Junior Tarryn Luafalemana posted a match-high 18 kills and added four block assists in the loss as CSUDH drops to 11-18, 4-17 CCAA.

The Toros looked like a team on a mission and looking for their fourth-straight win after roaring back from an 11-6 first set deficit to tie the frame at 15 on a Taryn McCullouch blast, and take the lead for good on another McCullouch putaway en route to a 25-21 win, the last point coming from Whitney Lee, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week.

That momentum carried over to set two as CSUDH too, a 9-5 lead and never looked back, using a pair of Alijah Gunsaulus blasts to stretch its lead to six at 20-14 in the 25-19 win, with Luafalemana doing the honors with the set's final point.

CSUSB, however, came out roaring after the break, showing the verve that helped the Yotes to a five-set win over No. 12 UC San Diego on Wednesday to clincn their eighth-consecutive CCAA Championship, taking the next two games by 25-17 and 25-11 counts to force a decisive fifth.

In the fifth, the Yotes appeared to run away after taking a 7-3 lead, but the Toros caught the hosts at 10 on an Elizabeth Krieger blast, and again at 11 on one by Luafalemana.

The Coyotes, however, used a pair of Toro attack errors and Stephanie Sinohui's strong serve to pull away down the stretch, with the match's final point coming on a Toro service error.

Gunsaulus finished with 16 kills while Lee chipped in nine and Krieger eight.

The Toros dominated net play to the tune of a 13 to 8 block advantage with libero Korryne Kelley posting a match-high 22 digs, but CSUSB made eight fewer attack errors and served eight more aces in the marathon.

CSUDH will conclude its 2013 season tomorrow night at No. 12 UC San Diego after the Tritons fell 3-1 at Cal State L.A. earlier tonight.

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