California Baptist University
UC Irvine
LANCER 'EATERS
1/8/2011 5:42:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- California Baptist University lost its second match of the day Friday night, dropping a grudge match with NCAA Division I No. 2-ranked UC Irvine, 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 28-26, 25-23).
It was the second time in three days the two teams had met, with CBU winning the first, 3-2, Wednesday in Riverside.
In each team's second match at the Gaucho Collegiate Invitational, they split the first two sets, making the third a crucial rubber game.
The Lancers jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the Anteaters were able to battle back and used a couple of key aces from Jeremy Dejno to even the set a 11-11. UCI would pull in front and take its largest lead of the game at 19-15.
CBU faced set point for the Anteaters at 24-22, but out of a timeout Levi Cabral served a clutch ace down the middle of the court and then smashed a kill off the block to quickly even the set. The Lancers would stay alive through two more set points, but back-to-back kills from Dejno and Jordan DuFault would clinch the victory for the Anteaters at 28-26.
The fourth and final set was another tightly contested one, but the Anteater's firepower won out as Carson Clark finished off a 25-23 win by ripping a kill down the center of the court.
The Anteaters hit .542 in the final set.
Neither team could find their rhythm on the serve with the two teams combining for 38 service errors, nearly a fourth of the total points scored.
UCI had four players in double figures, getting big nights from Clark with 17 kills and DuFault and Dejno who had 16 kills each. Dufault hit a blistering .586 on the match.
The Lancers were led offensively by Cabral who had 23 kills and a .385 attacking percentage.
UCI out-hit the Lancers, .348-.305, while the Lancers held an edge on the block, recording 9.5 total to only four for the Anteaters.
CBU moves to 1-2 on the season and UC Irvine also moves to 1-2 after a disappointing 0-2 start to the season.
The Lancers will square off against UC San Diego in their final match at the Gaucho Invitational, Saturday at 11 a.m.
