The Coyotes are taking a No. 2 NCAA West Region ranking into this week's CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.

CSUSB (21-4 overall) has won its last 12 matches and begins play in the second annual CCAA tournament here at Coussoulis Arena today, Thursday, Nov. 17.

The CCAA South champion Coyotes face North No. 4 seed Cal State East Bay (13-13) at 7:30 p.m.

In other tournament action Thursday:

  • No. 3 (North) seed Stanislaus State will face No. 2 (South) seed UC San Diego at noon;
  • No. 4 (South) seed Cal State Dominguez Hills will face No. 1 (North) see Chico State at 2:30 p.m.; and
  • No. 3 (South) seed Cal State Los Angeles will face No. 2 (North) seed Sonoma State.

Friday’s quarter final schedule will begin with the first match at 5 p.m., and the second match at 7:30 p.m.

The championship match will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets will be available one hour prior to the first match each day at the Coussoulis Arena Box Office.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $5 for seniors (60 and older), $5 for children (12 and younger), and $5 for students with ID. All seating is general admission.

The Coyotes have reached the 20-win level for the 18th straight season and are aiming for their 17th straight NCAA Tournament berth.

Alaska-Anchorage (27-2 overall) is the region's top team for the third straight week, followed by CSUSB, Simon Fraser, Western Washington, Cal Baptist, Northwest Nazarene, Central Washington, Chico State, Cal State L.A., and Dominican.

The NCAA will announce its tournament bracket at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at www.ncaasports.com.

The top eight teams in each of the nation's eight regions advance to the NCAA Tournament that begins Dec. 1. The CCAA Tournament champion, and GNAC and Pac West regular-season champions advance to the NCAA with the other five slots determined by at-large voting.

In the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, the Coyotes remained at No. 14 after they swept Sonoma State and San Francisco State last week.

It marks the 55th consecutive appearance in the poll for coach Kim Cherniss' program.

The Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears are ranked first in the country and the remaining top 10 teams are: Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Kearney, Southwest Minnesota, Wheeling Jesuit, Winona State, Augustana, Wayne State, Alaska-Anchorage and Palm Beach Atlantic.

Also, read the feature on Malika O'Brien at 'Putting team above all else,' and see who made all-conference at 'Shining All-CCAA Coyotes.'

Keep up with the latest sports news at CSUSB Athletics.