California Baptist University
Long Beach State
Hanging With No. 1
1/10/2014 4:03:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Coming off a disappointing loss at Cal State Northridge, California Baptist University looked to bounce back, but knew it'd have its work cut out in hosting No. 1-ranked Long Beach State.
The Lancers fought valiantly but couldn't hold off the 49ers, who finished the night with a .455 hitting clip, surrendering a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-19) defeat.
With the loss, CBU falls to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Top-ranked LBSU improves to 2-0 on the season and opens conference action with a 1-0 record.
CBU closed out the match with a .361 attack percentage, led by Johannes Brink with 16 kills.
Long Beach State came out firing, grabbing three-straight points to start the match. Two kills from Brink ended the run before the 49ers could really get momentum building, putting the Lancers just a point behind at 3-2.
Trailing 6-4, CBU snagged three consecutive points off a Kristopher Johnson kill, LBSU error and Rocky DeLyon ace to take over the lead.
A battle commenced as each team exchanged points coming closer and closer to set point. The 49ers reached the pivotal point first at 24-23 off a kill from Taylor Gregory, and despite a CBU timeout, the visitors found the last point to take the first set 25-23.
The Lancers came out fired up in the second set, determined to take one off the 49ers. Brink grabbed the first kill and Joel Blocksom followed with an ace to put CBU in front 2-0.
With the score even at 7-7, the 49ers took the upper hand at 9-7, but the Lancers wouldn't let the top-ranked team get too far ahead.
Down by two at 14-12, the Lancers went on a 3-0 run to take back their lead. Johnson started the run by finding a hole in the 49er defense for a kill. Amir Lugo-Rodriguez and Blocksom combined for a block to deny a LBSU attempt and Lugo-Rodriguez added a kill on the next play to put CBU in front 15-14.
LBSU wasn't ready to back down, however, and rallied to take a 21-18 advantage to force a CBU timeout. The 49ers kept rolling, putting the score at 24-20. Feeling the pressure, the Lancers grabbed a point to stay alive, but LBSU found an open spot on the court to end the set at 25-21.
Desperate for a set victory to keep the match going, CBU opened the third game with the first three points, in thanks to Brink. The junior outside hitter powered down two kills and teamed up with Lugo-Rodriguez to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead.
The 49ers rallied back into the set and took over the lead at 9-8. The lead didn't last long as the two squads went back and forth before CBU went back out in front at 12-11 off a mishit attempt from LBSU.
CBU found itself trailing again, however, as the 49ers went in front 16-13 by scoring four-straight points. Lugo-Rodriguez ended the scoring spree by drilling down a kill, but LBSU tightened its grip on the lead and extended it to four points at 19-15.
Brink sparked the Lancers with his 16th kill of the contest and DeLyon took advantage of a lofted dig to add another, putting the score within two at 19-17.
Despite valiant defensive efforts from the Lancer, CBU couldn't hold off the LBSU attack and surrendered the final set 25-19 to end the match.
CBU remains at home for another MPSF contest, hosting UC San Diego on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
