SAN DIEGO, California – The Nighthawks Volleyball team kicked off their regular season play at the San Diego Invite on September 4th, facing a tough opponent in Cal State San Bernardino. Despite a strong effort, the Nighthawks fell to the Coyotes in three sets: 25-10, 25-17, and 25-18.
In set one, the Nighthawks came out with energy, staying neck-and-neck with the Coyotes early on. An early kill by Abby Black gave NNU their first lead of the night. That momentum continued, powered by a strong front row effort that included 2 kills each from Black, Lily Kinloch, and Hailey Cheney within the first 10 points.
However, the momentum shifted midway through the set. CSSB went on a dominant 15-point run, capitalizing on NNU's errors and showcasing their offensive firepower with 10 kills. The set ended in favor of the Coyotes, 25-10.
The Coyotes carried that momentum into set two, quickly jumping out to a 7-3 lead. The Nighthawks fought back, taking advantage of a few CSSB mistakes to trim the deficit to five. Despite the push, the Coyotes stayed composed, using key kills and service aces to close out the set 25-17.
In the third and final set, NNU rallied in an effort to extend the match. Lily Kinloch led the offense with a standout performance, recording 5 kills in the set—one of which brought the Nighthawks within three points at 21-18. But CSSB held firm in the closing moments, sealing the match with a 25-18 win.
The Nighthawks continue their San Diego Invite appearance on September 5th at 6:00 PM PT, as they take on Point Loma. The team looks to rally and bounce back as they return to the court at Golden Gymnasium.
