California Baptist University
Cal State L.A.
GOLDEN INGRID
9/15/2011 4:44:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Playing at home for the first time this season, California Baptist University put on a show for the Lancer faithful, rallying for a thrilling victory in the third set to take a 3-1 win over Cal State LA.
Ingrid Carmona led her team in its home debut with a monstrous 27 kills and 16 digs, powering the CBU offense late in the match for the win.
"We may not have played our best volleyball all night, but it was exciting," said Head Coach Ryan McGuyre. "It was good to be at home and play in that atmosphere. I'm sure that helped us some."
The two teams traded relatively easy wins in the opening two sets and looked likely to be headed towards five games. As it so often is though, the rubber game was a thriller.
CBU trailed nearly the entire game, pulling even seven times before finally tying the set at 24-24. After a CBU service error again gave CSULA game point, Carmona rose up and smashed a kill over the Golden Eagle block to pull the Lancers back even.
The teams traded points back and forth until a service error followed by an attacking error gave the Golden Eagles a 28-27 lead. Still unable to close the door, however, CSULA committed another costly error, hitting the ball into the net on game point. From there on out it was the Carmona show.
The junior opposite hitter got the very next ball set to her from Taylor Parker and pounded a kill into the hardwood. After a volley that saw clutch digs on both sides of the net, Parker went right back to Carmona, who sealed the 30-28 win with a shot off the CSULA block.
Carmona had eight kills and saw 20 sets come her way in the third game alone, but she wasn't done there.
Carmona added nine more kills as CBU finished the match off with a 25-20 win in the fourth. She had a season high 56 attempts on the night.
"There's no question that Ingrid was great tonight," said McGuyre "She is realizing her role and really how good she can be as a go-to hitter. We just started setting her until they showed they could stop it and they didn't."
Even after winning the thrilling third set, CBU looked shaky to open the fourth, falling behind 12-9 early. The Lancers rallied to even the set, though, and behind the service of Carly Campbell made a six point run to take a 20-14 lead.
"Carly was big for us closing out the fourth," said McGuyre. "She's been our most consistent server in practice and that's what we needed from her."
Neither team had a stellar offensive showing in the match, with the Lancers hitting .229 and CSULA hitting .205. Carmona not only led her team in kills and digs, but hit .394 on her 56 attempts. Marquis Mora led the Golden Eagles with 13 kills and a .455 attack percentage.
CBU improves to 6-3 on the season, while CSULA falls to 4-3. The Lancers will be back in action this weekend, traveling to St. George, Utah for their PacWest opener against Dixie State on Saturday. The Lancers are back home again next week, facing No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino Wednesday at 7 p.m.
