SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The nationally-ranked match between the No. 13 Broncos and No. 14 Yotes did not disappoint, as the two west region juggernauts alternated blows until CSUSB edged out the win in the decisive fifth set. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 13-3 on the season and 6-2 in CCAA action, allowing No. 23 Cal State LA to take first place in the conference standings with a 7-1 conference record.
 
"This was a big match for a lot of reasons," said head coach Traci Dahl. "If you want to stay in first [place], you better win. Everything is so tight in the CCAA, which is what makes it such a strong conference."
 
Facing Cal State San Bernardino on their home court is no easy task, as the Yotes have not lost a regular season home game since 2015. No that is not a typo, CSUSB is now 73-0 in regular season home games since their last loss to UCSD on September 15, 2015.
 
The Broncos did not back down from the fight, looking to pick up their third straight win against the Yotes after taking them down in both the CCAA Tournament and ending their season in the NCAA West Regional last season.
 
The two teams could not have delivered a more statistically balanced match if they tried. The Broncos recorded 55 kills to CSUSB's 54, 49 assists to CSUSB's 47, 71.0 points to CSUSB's 72.0, and the Broncos recorded their second-most digs of the season with 74, while the Yotes recorded their most of the season – also with 74.
 
After dropping the first set 25-20, the Broncos responded in a big way with a 25-16 win in the second set. A similar cycle repeated in sets three and four, as the Yotes won the prior 25-21 and the Broncos won the latter 25-15 – forcing a decisive fifth set.
 
Junior Madison Novak delivered one of her best performances of the season with 19 kills, the third-most in a match in her career. Novak carried that attack into the fifth set, collecting two early kills to put the Broncos ahead 4-3. This would be the last lead for CPP, as three service errors and three attack errors would give the Yotes critical separation and ultimately the win.
 
"We did some really good things tonight," added Dahl. "But you can't have those late errors against a talented team."
 
Daisy Duke and Samantha Campion joined Novak with double-digit kills in the match. Setter Caitie Mueller collected 42 assists, the sixth time she has eclipsed the 40-assist mark in a match this season. Avery Percival, Campion, and Emily Payne each collected double-digit digs, with Percival recording a season-high 22 against the Yotes.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos will face Cal State San Marcos (6-10) twice this upcoming week. The first match will be at home on Friday, October 13^th, at 5:00 PM. The second game will take place on the road this Saturday, October 14^th, at 3:00 PM.
 

Bronco Bits

• The Broncos are now 46-29 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino.
• Traci Dahl is now 68-30 (.694) as head coach of the Broncos.
• At 1,059 kills, Daisy Duke ranks 7^th all-time in program history.