California Baptist University
Fresno Pacific
Sunburnt
11/3/2012 5:37:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Despite runs to keep it close, a couple of early leads proved too much for CBU to overcome in the final two games as FPU broke a 1-1 tie to get the win.
"Even though we didn't get the win we saw some good things and showed we can play with one of the best teams in the country," said CBU Head Coach Branden Higa. "We also saw some things we need to work on, but that's pretty much how the season has been. This was still a definite improvement from how we had been playing."
The loss was the first for the Lancers at home, dropping CBU to 16-7 overall, 9-4 PacWest. Fresno Pacific improves to 20-2, 12-1.
It was the first home match for the Lancers in nearly a month as CBU has played its last seven contests on the road.
CBU was welcomed home by a raucous crowd in the Van Dyne Gym and treated the home fans to a hard fought opening set win.
The teams played neck-and-neck through much of the first game until FPU took a 21-19 lead late and CBU called a timeout to regroup. Out of the break the Lancers fired off four straight points behind the service of Ingrid Carmona. Malika O'Brien assisted on a block and got a kill in the run and Kim McCalmont blasted two kills.
CBU would take the set by two.
A close set in the second again saw FPU with a 21-19 lead late, but this time it was the Sunbirds who found the late run, taking the game with three straight points.
FPU opened the third with an 8-1 lead and despite the Lancers closing to within one late, held on for the win. It was a similar story in the fourth as the Sunbirds held an 18-9 lead mid-way through the set that CBU couldn't overcome.
"It was the little things that were the difference down the stretch," said Higa. "They were able to finish a couple of long rallies and we didn't take care of some easy balls. It's those little things that make a difference in a tight match like this."
CBU and FPU were close in several statistical categories, with the Sunbirds out-blocking the Lancers 5.5-5.0 and CBU committing two more errors in the match.
FPU terminated at a slightly higher rate, though, hitting .291 to CBU's .215. The Sunbirds hit .480 in the final set.
Carmona led the Lancers with 14 kills and McCalmont added 12. Haley Musulman led the team with 13 digs and Jordyn Siko posted 37 assists.
FPU's Rupia Inck led all players with 24 kills, hitting .304.
