SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Despite the build-up for its showdown with conference rival Cal State San Bernardino, the UCSD women’s volleyball team came out flat against the Coyotes and squandered its shot at the top spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Tritons were able to salvage something from their weekend the next night with a 3-0 sweep of Cal Poly Pomona.
The loss at CSUSB snapped the Tritons’ nine-game winning streak, and UCSD’s record now stands at 20-4 overall and 14-3 in the CCAA.
Within the past couple of years, the rivalry between CSUSB and UCSD has expanded from a battle between two intensely competitive teams to something that evokes enmity between the players and the schools. Given that, the Tritons’ complete lack of energy and extremely tentative play on Nov. 1 came as a surprise to the season-high 517 spectators on hand at Coussoulis Arena.
The match’s opening gave the appearance that a classic duel was about to unfold, with no team managing to open up much of a lead. Kim Morohunfola was strong early for the Coyotes — she tallied the first several of her 10 kills on the evening in game one. The Tritons made every attempt to respond, but in the end it was CSUSB playing strong down the stretch to take a 30-27 victory.
Game two followed a similar pattern, and even though the Coyotes managed to get a lead early, the Tritons rallied to tie the score at 28-28. A crucial service error deflated the Triton run, and CSUSB took the game 30-28.
Facing a 2-0 deficit, UCSD looked incapable of mounting any kind of a serious threat in the third game, and despite a solid effort from Stacy Dunsmore — she put down the last of her team-high 17 kills — and a late run that brought the score to a respectable 30-26, the Tritons were swept.
After coming in on such a roll and expecting a more competitive match, the Tritons were stunned by the sweep.
“”We were all just in shock,”” said middle blocker Kendra Canape. “”[Against CSUSB], you almost felt like there was nothing you could do.””
Determined to begin another winning streak, UCSD found the energy it had been lacking the night before when it came in to face the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona.
“”The energy was a nine or a 10 the whole time,”” Canape said. “”It was a good game for us and a good way to come back from [the loss].””
Bonnie Wilson led the charge with 16 kills, Dunsmore picked up 17 digs and Canape added 10 kills of her own on 14 attempts and only one error while the Tritons rolled to a 3-0 victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-24).
The win was an improvement for the Tritons after narrowly defeating the Broncos in five games during a Sept. 27 match at UCSD, but that improvement is not enough. For the Tritons to accomplish their goals, they will have to find a way to defeat CSUSB. With only five CCAA games remaining, a likely rematch in the regional playoffs looms, but to get there UCSD will have to bring the energy every night.
