ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Sonoma State held Cal State San Bernardino well below its average hitting percentage but double digit kills by three Coyotes proved to be too much in sweeping the Seawolves -- 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 -- on Friday night at The Wolves' Den. Sonoma State, ranked 19th nationally and third in this week's NCAA Division II West Region poll, fell to 19-6 overall and 11-6 in the CCAA. Cal State San Bernardino improved to 23-1 and 16-1.

In the opening set, the Seawolves played close with the Coyotes, ranked third in the nation and first in the regional poll, but four straight kills by Samantha Middleborn gave Cal State San Bernardino a 12-8 lead. Senior Ali Walker stopped Middleborn's run with a kill but the Coyotes kept at least a three point lead for the remainder of the set to take the early 1-0 match lead with a 25-22 win.

Sets two and three pretty much mirrored the first set; however, Sonoma State took Cal State San Bernardino to a tie at 22-22 but three straight points by the Coyotes -- two Seawolf attack errors and a Megan Johnson kill -- put the match away.

Despite the sweep, the Seawolves held the Coyotes to a .231 hitting percentage with ten total blocks -- the fifth time this season Sonoma State has rejected ten or more attacks. Leading the defense at the net was senior Sarah Illingworth with six blocks (five assisted) while senior Rikki Buckshnis added four assisted stops. Middleborn and Jane Chafeh, last week's CCAA Volleyball Player of the Week, led the Coyotes with 13 kills. Morgan Carty had 10. Sara Hoffman hnaded out 41 assists and libero Camille Smith led the defense with 17 digs.

For Sonoma State, sophomore Keala Peterson had a team-high nine kills, freshman Ally Sather and Illingworth added seven as the team hit only .158.

The three-set loss makes it the fifth consecutive season that Cal State San Bernardino has swept the Seawolves at home and Sonoma State remains winless against top five teams in its history (0-29).

Sonoma State will play its final home match of 2009 on Saturday night against Cal Poly Pomona (10-14, 7-10 CCAA) who defeated Humboldt State, 3-1, on Friday. Prior to the match, four Seawolves -- Buckshnis, Walker, Illingworth and Lindsay Brown -- will be honored in a pre-game ceremony for their efforts on and off the court as they will be playing in their final collegiate home volleyball match.

Box Score: #3 Cal State San Bernardino 3, #19 Sonoma State 0