SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Powered by 13.5 team blocks, No. 18 Cal State San Bernardino blocked its way past Humboldt State volleyball, 3-0, on Thursday night.
 
The Lumberjacks (15-7/12-6 California Collegiate Athletic Association) held an early six-point first set lead, but the defending CCAA champ Coyotes (17-5/14-4 CCAA) rallied for the 26-24 win. The home team held the momentum to take the next two sets (25-19 and 25-21) and dealt HSU its first straight-sets defeat of the season.
 
"Our execution in every area tonight was poor," said HSU Head Coach Kelly Wood. "We played without confidence and it's very difficult to win in that situation."
 
Cal State San Bernardino took advantage of 27 HSU attack errors with half due to home blocks. The Coyotes registered 13.5 team blocks to the Jacks' four.
 
For the Jacks, Kat Rifilato produced the best night. The sophomore downed 11 kills, hit .348, handed out 15 set assists, dug nine attacks and served an ace.
 
Symone Hayden lined 11 kills of her own. Nicole Bewley continued her high hitting percentage of .353 with nine kills.
 
Erin Mitchell recorded 24 assists and an ace, while Haley Biles posted 13 digs.
 
As a team, the Jacks started the night hitting over .600 for the majority of the first set. HSU cooled down late in the opener.
 
Ashley Owen gave the Jacks an early 4-0 lead off three kills. HSU increased the margin to six, 10-4, on a Rifilato kill. The visitor's lead stayed at five, 15-10. Trailing 16-12, Cal State San Bernardino put five-straight points on the board to even the set at 16.
 
At the seventh late tie, 24-24, the Coyotes took advantage of a Jack attack error, before they blocked the final point for a 26-24 win.
 
In the second set behind by a point, Cal State San Bernardino scored the next five points and pulled away for a 25-19 victory and two-set lead.
 
The third set went back-and-forth. Tied at 14, the Coyotes put six of the next eight points on the scoreboard to go ahead 20-16. HSU pulled no closer than three points the rest of the way to fall, 25-21, to end the match.
 
HSU continues its three-match in three nights Friday. The Jacks play at the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona in a 7 p.m. first serve.