Sword Fight

Wednesday, November 5

Riverside

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

Chaminade

CBU

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

11/5/2014 9:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Without being able to rely on its offense, California Baptist University leaned on its defense to help it outlast Chaminade in five grueling sets.

It was a back-and-forth contest, with CBU's digging and blocking always being there and then bringing its offense to life in the third and fifth sets to secure a 22-25, 25-22, 25-11, 21-25, 15-11 victory Wednesday night. CBU improved to 15-9, 11-5 in the PacWest, while the Silverswords slipped to 12-15, 5-12.

"I told the girls sometimes you've got to win ugly and that was kind of our story tonight, it was just a grind," Coach Branden Higa said.

CBU received a match-high 16 kills from Michelle Waber on a team-high .250 percentage, along with 14 digs. Many of her kills came in big moments, as she answered several rallies from the Swords with momentum-stopping kills.

"Michelle has been clutch for us all year, she's a veteran presence and we are really pleased with how her all-around game has come around," Higa said. "She knows how to find kills, she's a great hitter. She's someone who is not afraid to take the big swing."

Lauren Hackett finished with 15 kills, seven digs and a whopping four aces. Along with Waber, Amelia Tupou had a double-double with 40 assists and 15 digs. Four players finished with 10 or more digs for CBU, led by Tupou and Becky Moodie's 15 and followed by Waber, Tori Hinderaker (11) and Kristin McCord (10).

The Lancers piled on 16 blocks on the night, with Hackett leading the way with nine blocks, including five solo stuffs, and Jenna Perry (six kills) not far behind with seven walls of her own. Jessica Harris and Tupou each had four, while Lauren Marr chipped in a pair of blocks.

"We relied on our blocking a lot, and I think that impacted them with their errors," Higa said. "We made some good plays and stuffed some balls at the net, and I think it got them to start hitting some balls out."

When it mattered most, the Lancers were their best. They posted a .316 hitting percentage in the fifth and final set, with seven kills and just one error and 19 attempts. They also maintained an 81 sideout percentage, bringing the ball back to their side nine times out of 11. Waber had four kills in the clincher, while Hackett had two of her own. The Swords committed six attacking errors in the finale, as well.

"To me, the big thing is good teams find a way to win, even when they're not at their best," Higa said. "I feel like that was us tonight. We found a way to get it done in the big set.

"We limited our errors in the third and fifth sets. It's not characteristic of us to make a lot of errors; we are a pretty high efficiency team and we showed that in those sets."

After being tied at 5-5 in the deciding set, CBU jumped out to an 11-7 lead, thanks to two kills from Hackett and another from Waber. Chaminade pulled within 11-9 but Waber stopped the run with another kill. After a kill from Harris and a Swords error, the Lancers held match point, 14-10, with Waber sealing the match with a kill.

Even in the sets the Lancers lost Wednesday, they mounted late rallies. In the first set, they trailed 19-15 and climbed with 24-22 on kills from Tupou, Marr (six kills) and a Moodie ace. Chaminade stopped the comeback and took the set, 25-22, on a Cassie Rushlow kill.

Tied 12-12, CBU used several runs to separate in the second set. A 5-2 run sparked by kills from Waber and Jenna Perry gave the Lancers a 17-14 lead. The Swords pulled within one, 17-16, before CBU notched three-straight points for a 20-16 edge. This time, Chaminade climbed within two, 21-19, but a kill from Hackett and consecutive attacking errors gave the home team set point, 24-19. The visitors attempted to rally, scoring consecutive points before a Waber spike ended things, 25-22.

The Lancers came out on fire in the third set and hit a match-high .367 with 13 kills and two errors on 30 attempts. Hackett had five kills and Waber added three in the set. The Lancers jumped out to a 10-4 advantage and then completely pulled away with a 7-0 run, highlighted by kills from Harris (four blocks) and Perry. Chaminade scored the next five points before a 5-0 spurt -- marked by three Waber kills -- gave CBU a 22-10 cushion. Hackett and Marr scored two of the final three points with kills, ending the set on a score of 25-11.

Refusing to go quietly, the Swords took an 18-13 edge in the fourth set. The Lancers pulled within two, 20-18, thanks to kills from Waber and Perry. Chaminade tallied straight points before CBU rattled off three straight on kills from Perry and Waber. Chaminade closed the set, 25-21, on a three-point run to send things into a decisive fifth set.

Now CBU turns its attention to a tough Hawaii Pacific squad that suffered a five-set loss to Point Loma. The two square off Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Van Dyne Gym. The Lancers play their final home match of the regular season against BYU-Hawaii Saturday at 2 p.m.