SAN BERNARDINO – To earn a split of its weekend Southern California road trip, the Chico State volleyball team knew it would have to conquer a Cal State San Bernardino squad with history and a three-week winning streak on its side. The Wildcats, trying to beat San Bernardino for the first time in 20 years, came up empty Saturday against the No. 22 Coyotes, bowing in three sets 15-25, 11-25 and 14-25 at Coussoulis Arena.  
 
Saturday's loss dropped the Wildcats to 16-8 on the season and into a tie for fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 8-6 conference record. Cal State San Bernardino, which extended its winning streak to eight straight, improved to 19-3 overall and 12-2 in CCAA play.
 
Ashton Kershner posted a team-high six kills for the Wildcats, with Hannah Wilkins and Shannon Boling contributing five kills apiece. Torey Thompson piled up 20 assists while chipping in with four kills, and Jacki Kreymborg registered 10 digs in the losing effort.
 
Cal State San Bernardino jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, but two Thompson kills and one by Kershner pulled Chico State to within a point. The Coyotes responded with a 9-3 run to extend their advantage to 14-7, but three Wilkins kills helped the 'Cats cut the deficit to 15-10. That would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as San Bernardino scored eight of the set's final 11 points to chalk up a 25-15 win.
 
The Coyotes spotted Chico State the first point of the second set, then ripped off a 10-2 run to grab an early seven point lead. The Wildcats were unable to generate a consistent enough offense to climb back into the contest, and despite three Kershner kills and two by Wilkins, San Bernardino had no trouble maintaining its large lead and cruised to a 25-11 victory.
 
The Coyotes led from start to finish in the third set. San Bernardino went up early 6-2, and though the Wildcats continued to battle – McKenna Carroll delivered a service ace and Boling, Thompson and Kaitlyn Jochum each came through with kills – the Coyotes used a 14-8 run to build a 20-10 lead to take total command of the proceedings. Boling and Anna Baytosh both scored a late kill for the never-say-die 'Cats, but San Bernardino would successfully score the final points needed to win the set 25-14 and sweep the match.
 
The Wildcats play just one match next week, when they host Cal State San Marcos Friday at Acker Gym. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.