California Baptist University
University of Texas at Brownsville
ROLLING AT NATIONALS
11/28/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
COLUMBIA, Mo. ? A little sluggish in its second game of the day, California Baptist came out slow, but found its niche midway through and didn't falter from there in a 3-0 (30-25, 30-16, 30-21) route of Texas-Brownsville. The Lancers (29-4) got 30 kills from Verania Willis who hit .545 (30-6-44) in the win over the Scorpions (33-17).
“Good serving brought us back into the game tonight and we just focused in on what we wanted to do defensively,” said CBU head coach Ryan McGuyre. “We were definitely slow coming off sleep after the early game. We just weren't paying attention to the game plan. Once we settled in it made it easier for us.”
Shi Fei and Yudelka Bonilla also ripped double-figure kills as Fei notched 17 and Bonilla recorded 11. Kayla Van Duyn dished out a match-high 55 assists. As a team the Lancers hit .479 (67-11-117) for the match and closed the match hitting .528 in the final game. Brittney Barton also had four aces totaling seven on the day.
“Vera was hitting phenomenal tonight,” said McGuyre. “It was fun to watch. She was really in her element. We're going to need to that production from her here.
Katrina Clark and Bonilla led the way defensively as Clark had 14 digs and Bonilla had 13. Rachel Gowen also had four blocks.
CBU fell behind 10-7 early in game one, but rebounded to tie the game at 10. After five more ties, with the last one coming at 20-20, the Lancers pulled away doubling UTB's scoring down the stretch to take the game at 30-25. The Lancers came alive in the second game as they finished the game on a 20-7 run after the Scorpions got within one at 10-9. CBU again distanced itself down the stretch in the final game and sealed the match with a 6-0 run to take a 29-16 lead setting up match point. Van Duyn had a pair of kills in that stretch as well.
“To be honest, I didn't feel we were tested that much today so it's hard to get a perspective,” said McGuyre. “There are things we can improve on, but I don't want to tighten up necessarily on these early matches. Tomorrow is a new day and we are as good as our last match so we will take the win tonight and get some sleep with us playing the late game.”
CBU is one game away from the elimination round and with a win over No. 9 Lewis-Clark, the Lancers will end up playing, Friday, at Columbia College at 6 p.m.
