California Baptist University
Albertson (Idaho)
ALL THE YOTES' HORSES
11/30/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
COLUMBIA, Mo. --- A kill from Albertson's Anne Parker brought the Coyotes within one, at 15-14, in the closing set, but the NAIA's 2-time defending champion California Baptist posted 6 points in a row and finished on a 15-6 run to earn its third sweep of the NAIA National Championships.
The, 30-21, 30-25, 30-20, win will be good for a Lancer berth in tomorrow afternoon's quarterfinals against St. Mary (NE), the winner of Pool E. The Lancers (31-7) are one of just 3 teams--along with No. 1 and No. 2-seeded National American and Fresno Pacific--to post straight-set victories through pool play.
California Baptist and St. Mary square off tomorrow at 1 p.m., Central time.
"We were really wanting to win this one in order to have a more managable schedule in the next few days," said California Baptist head coach Ryan McGuyre. "If we win our match tomorrow, we'll have the remainder of the day to rest and get prepared for Saturday, so that should work in our favor if we can make it happen."
With the opening set knotted up at 5 apiece, Verania Willis--who posted a match-high 19 kills--slammed 3 consecutve kills, and Yudelka Bonilla (11 kills) followed her up with one of her 2 kills in the opening set, as the Lancers stretched their early lead to 9-5.
The Lancers' hot hitting kept Albertson from getting in any sort of rhythm, as the 'Yotes were able to score consecutive points only twice in the game, falling behind 25-17 after a kill by Lancer setter Caitlin Parker, who dealt out 47 assists on the night.
Willis finished game one with a total of 9 kills and a block, as Angela Willis chipped in 3 of her 5 total blocks in the opening set.
Although it lost the opener, Albertson was very much in game 2, which was tied up 8 times before Shi Fei slapped a kill that was backed up with a Bonilla service ace and an Angela Willis kill, putting California Baptist in the lead to stay, at 21-18. Fei and Bonilla each posted 5 kills in game 2, as 6 Lancers notched at least one kill in the 30-25 win.
"Fei and Yudelka both played excellent out of the back row tonight," said McGuyre. "With Albertson's blocking, it was important that we pass well and move the ball around well--we knew that coming in. At the times we needed a block, we got a block. When we needed a big serve or dig, we got that big play. We just made plays--especially in that second set, when we needed them."
With the Yotes' down just 15-14 in the finale, Angela Willis notched one of her 7 kills on the night and then served the next 5 points that included 2 blocks and a kill from Lindsey Siefken (6 kills, 6 blocks) along with a pair of kills from Verania Willis that made the score 21-14.
Angela Willis posted 2 more kills the rest of the way, and Bonilla contributed 3 of her own as the Lancers closed out the set on a 15-7 rally.
"It was a great collective effort," said McGuyre. "It was a whole lot of fun to watch the girls play like they can out there. We did the little things right as a team, and that was the difference-maker."
To view the matches live through the NAIA's video feed, click here, or to visit the official tournament website, click here.
