WILLIS SETS KILLS RECORD

Saturday, August 25

Tampa, FL

8 a.m.

California Baptist University

Western Washington University

WILLIS SETS KILLS RECORD

8/25/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

TAMPA, Fla. ? Verania Willis set a school record for kills in a single match with 35 as California Baptist University dropped its first match of the year 3-2 (28-30, 30-26, 22-30, 30-25, 15-9) to No. 23 (NCAA Division II) Western Washington, Saturday. Willis broke Yudelka Bonilla's, and her own, record of 34 kills. Bonilla set the mark back in 2004 and Willis tied the record last year.

The Lancers (2-1) opened the match with a come-from-behind win in game one with an 8-3 run. The Vikings (2-2) led 25-22 and then made back-to-back errors before She Fei tied the game with a kill. After Willis broke a 26-all tie with a kill, CBU didn't trail the rest of the game winning 30-28.

Western used a 9-0 run to take a 13-4 lead in the second game, but CBU battled back and cut the lead to 18-16. WWU pushed the lead out to 26-20, but the Lancers answered again cutting their deficit to 27-24 on a Willis kill. The however, Vikings held on to grab game two and tie the match at one game apiece.

CBU dominated the third game and never trailed winning 30-22, but failed to keep the Vikings in check in the fourth and fifth games. The Lancers struggled to find a lead in game four. The closest they got was a 7-7 tie. CBU got within two at 26-24, but WWU used a 4-1 run to push for the fifth and final game. In the final game, the Vikings used a 5-2 run to close out the match with a 15-2 win and gave the Lancers their first loss of the year.

Kayla Van Duyn recorded 67 of the team's 75 assists. Fei hit .297 with 15 kills while Angela Willis and freshman Colleen Sweeney each had 11 kills. Katrina Clark had a game-high 25 digs.

The Lancers will return back to their home state and play in the Concordia Labor Day Tournament Aug. 31-Sept. 1. CBU opens the tournament with No. 14 Northwestern (Iowa) and No. 19 Doane (Neb.), Aug. 31.