Surging Sea Lions

Wednesday, October 29

Riverside

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

Point Loma

CBU

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

10/29/2014 9:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Through five sets, California Baptist University battled with the preseason pick to win the PacWest Conference, Point Loma, but ultimately fell in the finale in the Van Dyne Gym Wednesday night.

The loss was the Lancers' first conference defeat at home, as they had won their previous five home matches. CBU falls to 13-9, 9-5 in conference with the loss, while the Sea Lions move to 14-9, 11-4. Despite the loss, the Lancers received a standout effort from freshman setter Amelia Tupou. In her first collegiate start, Tupou put up a double-double with 45 assists and 31 digs, along with five kills and two service aces.

Michelle Waber and Lauren Hackett benefited from Tupou's passes, as the duo logged 19 and 15 kills, respectively. Becky Moodie had 16 digs, while Kristin McCord and Tori Hinderaker recorded 11 each. Waber was a dig away from a double-double, too, with nine on the night.

The back-and-forth play was established right away, as both teams played to a 12-12 tie in the first set. A 5-1 run helped the Lancers take a 21-16 lead down the stretch, as Jenna Perry had two kills, Tupou had one of her own and Moodie provided an ace. The Sea Lions stopped the run for a second, but CBU answered right back with a 3-0 run provided by two kills from Hackett and another from Jessica Harris. After another PLNU point, Waber sealed the set with a kill, 25-18.

CBU recovered from an early 11-7 hole to tie the second 11-11, with two Hackett spikes and another from Harris leading the charge. The Lancers pushed out to a 17-13 lead on a Hackett ace and three kills from Waber. The Sea Lions scratched back within a point, 20-19, before the Lancers responded with three-straight points for a 23-19 lead. Consecutive kills from Waber and Marr closed out the set, 25-20, to give the home team a two-set lead.

A big 9-2 run shifted the momentum to Point Loma in the third set, as it took a 19-15 lead. CBU responded and pulled within one, 19-18, after kills from Tupou and Hackett, but the Sea Lions distanced themselves by scoring the next four points en route to a 25-20 victory.

The Lancers regrouped and played out to a 9-9 tie in the fourth set, but saw PLNU use a 4-0 run to take an early 13-9 edge. CBU closed within three, 17-14, but could not quiet the surging Sea Lions in a 25-21 loss.

Point Loma came out fastest in the fifth set and took an 11-7 lead before an error and kill from Waber moved CBU within two, 11-9. The Sea Lions scored the next two points to keep the pressure on the Lancers, who responded with kills from Marr and Waber. Kelli LeClair forced set point, 14-11, and after a Marr kill, PLNU clinched the match.

CBU, which is currently ranked 10th in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings, will look to bounce back against Dixie State, the No. 9 team in the West, Thursday at 7 p.m.