SAN BERNARDINO — Cal State San Bernardino women’s volleyball coach Kim Cherniss said she believed she could keep her emotions in check Saturday. Not a chance. Not on this night.
Cal State San Bernandino unveils its NCAA Division II championship banner from the 2019 season before a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match against Cal Poly Pomona at Coussoulis Arena on Saturday Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Head Coach Kim Cherniss presents the NCAA Division II trophy from the 2019 season before a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match against Cal Poly Pomona at Coussoulis Arena on Saturday Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Head Coach Kim Cherniss gets recognized for her 700 win after defeating Cal Poly Pomona in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match at Coussoulis Arena on Saturay Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Asia Clarke hits the ball against Cal Poly Pomona’s Gabby Cox and Marlee Nunley in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match at Coussoulis Arena on Saturday Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Alexis Cardoza spikes the ball against Cal Poly Pomona’s Kira Zimmerman in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match at Coussoulis Arena on Saturay Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Melissa Garciglia kills against Cal Poly Pomona’s Ruki Kennedy and Kira Zimmerman in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match at Coussoulis Arena on Saturay Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Head Coach Kim Cherniss and players pose for a photo celebrating Cherniss 700 win after defeating Cal Poly Pomona in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball match at Coussoulis Arena on Saturay Oct. 16, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
A night to remember began before Saturday’s match even started. Cal State San Bernardino officially unveiled the program’s 2019 NCAA Division II national championship banner in the rafters of Coussoulis Arena, and the players from that undefeated squad also received their championship rings. The ceremony was delayed for more than a year as the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cherniss, who is in her 31st season in charge of the program, addressed the crowd, which included several of her former players, alumni, university administrators and supporters.
“Thank you for your loyalty and support over the years,” Cherniss said. “We had been so close, so many times before… This celebration tonight has been a long time coming.”
Cherniss then introduced Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales, who was given the honor of dropping the veil on the first team national championship banner in the university’s history.
If Cherniss thought the emotional moments had passed with those ceremonies, she was mistaken.
There was still a match to play on homecoming night. Cal State San Bernardino got off to a fast start and finished strong to defeat Cal Poly Pomona 25-13, 12-25, 25-17, 25-16 to complete a home-and-home sweep of the Broncos. It marked the program’s 36th straight win in California Collegiate Athletic Association play, as well as its 62nd consecutive victory at home.
As the crowd started to leave, it was quickly announced this victory was the 700th in Cherniss’ career.
Messages from current and former players and coaches and longtime supporters played on the video board. Cherniss broke down, tears rolling down her face with every message. At one point, the team gathered by her side for support, and longtime associate coach Danny Scott brought Cherniss tissues to wipe away the tears.
“Knowing coach, she had no idea about No. 700,” Kim Morohunfola, the 2009 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, said in her video message. Cherniss seemed to nod in agreement.
The final messages were from Cherniss’ daughter (Jordan), father (Lloyd Holder) and husband (Pete).
Cherniss then was presented with a trophy of a golden volleyball to mark the historic win.
Cal State San Bernardino (15-3, 10-0 in CCAA) got off to a fast start, using a 15-3 run to take control of the first set. Marlee Nunley spread the ball around to her attackers, as Alexis Cardoza, Asia Clark and Melissa Garciglia each had four kills in the set, while Jalyn Hayes added three more kills. Cal Poly Pomona struggled offensively early and had more errors (eight) than kills (six) in the opening set.
Cal Poly Pomona (14-3, 7-3) immediately flipped the script in the second set, as the Broncos raced to a 15-4 lead. Jazminn Parrish shook off a slow start and recorded six kills on 10 swings during the set. Cal State San Bernardino only had seven kills in the set.
Cal Poly Pomona had its sights on ending those aforementioned streaks when it grabbed a 13-8 lead in the third set, but Cal State San Bernardino responded with an 8-0 run to surge ahead. Cardoza, the reigning Division II Player of the Year, had two kills in that stretch, and Hayes combined with Cardoza and Marlee Nunley for three stuff blocks.
Cardoza was quiet during the second set. Cal Poly Pomona’s blockers got touches on her shots down the line and Broncos libero Brynn Sherbert dug many of Cardoza’s crosscourt attacks. Cardoza began to hit sharper angles and finished with seven kills during the third set.
Cal State San Bernardino used a 12-3 run to take command of the fourth set. Cardoza had three kills in that stretch, and Jayden Chornomud came off the bench and served three aces.
Cardoza finished with match highs of 17 kills and 18 digs. Clarke registered a double-double, as well, with 12 kills and 11 digs. Hayes finished with 10 kills, three solo blocks and seven block assists. Garciglia added 10 kills for the Coyotes, and Nunley had 47 assists and nine digs.
Parrish led Cal Poly Pomona with 12 kills. Jaymyn Wheeler had eight kills and 12 digs, and Daisy Duke added eight kills and four block assists. Kira Zimmerman finished with 26 assists and 14 digs, while Sherbert also registered 14 digs and four aces for the Broncos.