SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.

- The 10th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team dropped its CCAA opener to 2nd-ranked Cal State San Bernardino 31-29, 24-30, 18-30, 24-30 on Saturday night in Coussoulis Arena. The Tritons were led by freshman Kimberly Carpenter with a match-high 15 kills. She also added eight digs and an ace. Nicole Courtney tallied a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. UCSD drops to 8-2 overall, 0-1 CCAA while the Coyotes improve to 7-1, 1-0 CCAA.

The Tritons rallied from an early 6-1 deficit in game one to tie the game at 13-all, then appeared to take control of the game on two kills by Carpenter and a Coyote error to lead 27-24.The Coyotes rallied to tie the game at 29-all but then a bad serve and a kill by Courtney gave UCSD the game.

The teams were knotted at 23-all in game two but the Coyotes took the lead on a service ace by Nelthorpe and a kill by Weamer. After another Weamer spike, the Coyotes served out the game as UCSD committed four attack errors in a 30-24 win for CSUSB.

In game three, the Coyotes suddenly became efficient, hitting .333 as a team as they pulled away 21-15 on a kill by Hatch. CSUSB scored seven of the next eight points for a 28-16 lead as Drawn pounded home the final point in a 30-18 win.

Midway through game four it was 14-14 and the game was still in doubt with the Coyotes leading 21-18, but the Coyotes scored five of the next six points (kills by Drawn and Hatch and a block by Hatch and Amy Long) for a 26-19 lead. Long had five block assists in the match.

In addition to Carpenter and Courtney, Rebecca Bailey was in double figures with 10 kills and added five blocks. Laura Watkins had 24 digs while Natalie Facchini added 11 digs.

UC San Diego is back in action on Friday, September 16 when it takes on Cal State Monterey Bay in a CCAA match. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in RIMAC Arena in La Jolla, Calif.