CSUSB falls to Concordia-St. Paul in national volleyball semis
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Cal State San Bernardino's women's volleyball team fell short of its goal of a national NCAA Division II title, losing a 3-1 semifinal match to two-time defending champion Concordia-St. Paul, on December 4. The next night, Concordia-St Paul won its third straight national title in Gangelhoff Center, their home court.
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For the third time in seven years, Concordia-St. Paul has stopped the Coyotes from either winning the title or advancing to the title match. The Coyotes finished the season 33-2. CSP beat West Texas A&M in the title match 3-0.The hosts have won 73 straight matches, an NCAA record, since the Coyotes beat them 3-0 in the opening match of the 2008 season.
The Coyotes took the first set 25-20, but the Golden Bears responded and won the next three 25-18, 25-22 and 25-23. Junior Jane Chafeh had 17 kills, 16 digs and one solo block to lead the Coyotes while senior Ashtin Hall closed out her career with 14 kills and two blocks. Senior all-American Sara Hoffman had 47 assists and 11 digs in her final match as a Coyote. Sophomore all-American Samantha Middleborn had 10 kills and three blocks against the Golden Bears.
Students, faculty and staff turned out in good numbers on a cold, rainy Monday to salute the 2009 Cal State San Bernardino women’s volleyball team which once again made a statement that it is one of the top program in NCAA Division II.
CSUSB President Al Karnig said he expects three things from student-athletes – winning grades in the classroom, carrying themselves well on the court, off the court and in the community and winning games.
“Winning is good. The amount of sacrificing these players did in an effort to learn to win improves their chances to also be successful in life,” said Karnig.
“You are star quality athletes and well as people,” he said.
The No. 2-ranked Coyotes (33-2) flew home from St. Paul, Minn., site of the 2009 NCAA Division II volleyball championship tournament, after losing to No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (36-0) in the semifinals after beating No. 6 Tampa University (31-3) in the quarterfinals. Concordia won its third straight title, beating West Texas A&M handily in the title match by a score of 3-0.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am today,” said Karnig. “The end wasn’t as exciting as it could have been but what you have done is a remarkable achievement that made all of our students, faculty and staff proud of you and this university.”
Athletic Director Kevin Hatcher ticked off a list of achievements by this team that had only three seniors, two of whom were starters, two sophomore middle blockers, a sophomore outside hitter and a freshman libero.
1. Four straight California Collegiate Athletic Association championships.
2. Two straight NCAA Div. II West Region championships.
3. Two straight NCAA Final Four appearances.
4. A single-season record of 33 wins in Division II matches.
5. A single-season record of 21 CCAA conference wins.
6. Five all-CCAA team selections.
7. Three all-West Region first-team selections.
8. Three NCAA Div. II all-Americans.
9. Three players named to the 12-member NCAA championship all-tournament team.
10. Finishing up the season with a 31-match home winning streak dating back to the start of the 2008 season.
“You have to be proud of this team,” said Hatcher. “This team expects more and this team will win the school’s first national championship.”
Head Coach Kim Cherniss who has guided the team to a 63-6 record over the past two seasons, told the audience in the Santos Manuel Student Union there is “a factor of disappointment” in that the team did not reach its stated goal. “You can’t pursue a goal that lofty as hard as this team did and not be disappointed.”
Cherniss, who surpassed 400 career wins at CSUSB in this, her 19th season, told the audience, “I want you to be proud of these girls. They are wearing your colors on their uniforms and jackets with CSUSB on the back, representing your standard of excellence wherever they go.”
The veteran coach singled out Associate Head Coach Danny Scott as “the best associate head coach in the nation” and then complimented the three seniors on the team for their leadership of this young team – Ashtin Hall, Sara Hoffman and Alyssa Auck.
“This was an unforgettable experience and we hope to get doing this for many years to come,” Cherniss said.
Hatcher said the team has created a “lifetime of memories” for him and others over the past two seasons.
Speaking for the team, Auck, a setter from Hesperia, thanked the students, faculty and staff for their support. “Your support makes it possible for us to do what we do.”Date: 11/18/2009
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