A run for the ages capped by CSUSB’s seventh Elite Eight appearance spelled success for the Coyotes and volleyball head coach Kim Cherniss in 2017.

CSUSB, which finished 24-8 overall, secured its 21st season of 20 or more victories. It also captured its 13th California Collegiate Athletic Association title — more than any other CCAA member — and then went on an impressive NCAA run during its 18th consecutive tournament appearance.

The Coyotes entered the West Region as the fourth seed. Led by All-American Lauren Nicholson, they defeated Azusa Pacific, previously unbeaten and top-ranked California Baptist, and Western Washington all in impressive style to earn the program’s seventh NCAA West Region title and its first since 2011.

Nicholson, an outside hitter, was the leader of the pack for the Coyotes all season. The senior from Upland became CSUSB’s first consensus All-American in two seasons after a record-setting final season. She set three team records, and her 29 kills against Chico State on Oct. 27 were the most in a three-set match by any NCAA student-athlete this season.

Nicholson, the 2017 CCAA and West Region Player of the Year, also became just the third Coyote in school history to have 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career, an even more impressive achievement considering she played only three seasons at CSUSB after beginning her collegiate career at Portland State.

“For Lauren to lead us back to the NCAA championship after six years, no question, she has left an indelible mark on our program,” Cherniss said. “She helped set the example for our underclassmen.”