SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team got solid performances from its five seniors, but it wasn't enough to stop No. 7 ranked Cal State San Bernardino from earning a 25–18, 26–24, 25–23 decision Saturday evening in The Kelp Bed.
The match was the final home appearance for Kaylie Honberger, Savanna Maker, Kaila Uota, Ashley Vanderpan and Kea Veenendaal, and each member of the senior quintet contributed a strong effort that wasn't quite enough against one of the nation's premier programs on this night.
Honberger and Maker both reached double digits in kills with 11 and 10 respectively. Veenendaal added eight kills and hit .316. Vanderpan just missed a double–double with 32 assists and nine digs while Uota anchored the back row defense as she has since joining the Otters in 2019.
San Bernardino overcame an early Otter lead to walk away with the first set. CSUMB led nearly wire-to-wire in the second set before a late Coyote rally gave San Bernardino its first lead at 21–20. The Otters saved a pair of match points before an Ashley Robinson kill and Jayden Chornomud ace ended the set.
The Coyotes appeared ready to coast to the win until a late Otter rally in the third trimmed a 20–13 deficit to 24–23.
THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Trinity Sheridan's kill on match point ended what had been a 10–4 run that got the Otters to within a point.
MAKER MAKES IT BACK TO NINTH… Savanna Maker hit .375 Saturday versus San Bernardino to lift her career attack percentage up to .255. That's good for the No. 9 spot in Otter history.
HONBERGER UP TO SIXTH IN POINTS… With a team–high 14 points Saturday versus San Bernardino, Kaylie Honberger passed Christine Ricketts (2004–07) for the No. 6 spot on the career points list with 959.5.
VEENENDAAL PASSES FALL… Kea Veenendaal collected the 135th block of her career Saturday versus San Bernardino to claim the No. 21 spot on the Otter career blocks list with 135, one better than former All–American Rheann Fall (2008–11). It's worth noting that with two blocks Saturday, Mikayla Nolte (149) moved within two of Kimberly Sordello for the No. 17 spot.
SHE'S ACES… With three aces Saturday versus San Bernardino, Kaylie Honberger passed Nicki Sanderson (2003–06) for No. 7 on the Otter career aces list with 96. She needs four more to become the sixth player in Otter history to reach 100 aces.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Kaylie Honberger 14.0; KILLS: Kaylie Honberger 11; BLOCKS: Mikayla Nolte 2; ACES: Kaylie Honberger 3; DIGS: Dani Smith 13.
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters head to Southern California for their final two matches of the 2023 season, starting Friday (Nov. 10) at Cal State San Marcos. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
GO OTTERS!
