California Baptist University
Fresno Pacific
LANCERS FALL IN TITLE GAME
12/1/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
COLUMBIA, Mo. ? California Baptist's bid for a third national title was thwarted Saturday night with a 3-1 (30-28, 25-30, 30-27, 34-32) loss to Fresno Pacific in the title game of the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The Lancers (32-5), who appeared in their third championship game in four years, recorded their second runner-up trophy in the program's history. The Sunbirds (37-1) captured their third national title.
Seniors Yudelka Bonilla and Verania Wills ended their careers at CBU leading the way for the Lancers. Bonilla ripped a match-high 32 kills while hitting a .363 clip (32-3-80) and Willis recorded 28 kills. Bonilla and Willis also recorded double-doubles as Bonilla had 19 digs while Wills had 16. Kayla Van Duyn also closed out her senior year with a match-high 68 assists. Katrina Clark tied a career high with 28 digs. Shi Fei was one dig away from a double-double as she had nine to go with her 17 kills.
“It was a great tournament overall,” said CBU head coach Ryan McGuyre. “It was our best match this tournament. Fresno was strong in some spots, and that made the difference. Our starters played well, and I thought we got good production especially out of Yudelka (Bonilla) and Vera (Willis). Vera had a great night and I was impressed with Delka and how they both closed out their careers. I thought both ladies left it on the court. I saw flashes of brilliance and competiveness.”
The Lancers out hit the Sunbirds .242 (83-30-219) to .241 (72-26-191), but the Sunbirds made up the difference on the defensive end recording 13 blocks compared to CBU's six. FPU also out-dug the Lancers, 89-86.
Fresno Pacific looked to be on their way to a route leading 10-4 early in the opening game, and 18-11 later before CBU closed the gap to 20-19 on an 8-2 run. CBU took its first lead at 26-25 and took its biggest lead at 28-26 on a Fei kill. The Sunbirds answered though with a 4-0 run to close out the game.
The Lancers rebounded in game two and held a 15-7 lead midway through the second behind a pair of 4-0 runs. CBU took its biggest lead at 18-12 before the Sunbirds began to chip away at their deficit. FPU got within two at 27-25, but the Lancers closed out the game on a Willis kill that capped a 3-0 run to tie the match at 1-1.
CBU lead early in game three, 14-9, but couldn't hold off the Sunbirds late in the game. Fresno used a 5-1 run late to take a 25-23 lead and never trailed again to take a 2-1 match lead. Both teams traded blows in the final game as both teams tied six times in the final points including the last one at 32 before FPU closed out the match and the championship scoring the final two points.
