HARD FOUGHT FINALE

Saturday, November 13

Fullerton, CA

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

Hope International University (Calif.)

11/14/2010 6:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

FULLERTON, Calif. --- After suffering a tough five-set loss to No. 11 Concordia earlier in the week, No. 5 California Baptist University made sure to end its match with Hope International in three games, even if it took a little extra.

The Lancers needed a 31-29 third game victory to finish off the 3-0 sweep of the Royals Saturday night.

CBU took the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22, before winning the marathon third to take its regular season finale.

Linjun Ji led the Lancers with her best match of the season, ripping a season-high 16 kills on 25 attempts with just one error. She had a blistering .600 hitting percentage.

Nevena Dragovic racked up 37 assists in just two sets of work, leading CBU to a .333 attacking percentage. Taylor Parker took over the setting duties in the decisive third game and recorded 16 assists.

Neither team was able to pull away in the third playing neck and neck the entire way. Hope International held the largest lead of the game when the Royals took an 18-14 lead.

CBU would go on a 6-2 run to even the set at 20-20.

The two teams traded the lead back and forth until they were once again tied at 28-28.

A Lancer error gave the Royals set point, but the home team promptly served the ball into the net to knot the score at 29-29.

Jelena Dragovic ripped a service ace to give CBU match point. Bree Rauschenbach and Megan Glennie then closed the door by stuffing the Royal attack for the block and the win.

All 13 Lancers on the roster got on the court, with nine of them recording kills in the match.

It was CBU's blistering offensive pace that won the match for the visitors, as Hope International hit an impressive .316 on the night, but could not find a way to slow down the Lancers' attack.

CBU finishes the regular season 29-5 overall, 16-4 GSAC, while Hope International wraps up a 6-19, 3-17 regular season. CBU takes second in the conference standings, while the Royals finish ninth.

The Lancers now will prepare for their seventh straight trip to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament, held Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Sioux City, Iowa.