Rough Waters

Thursday, November 6

Riverside

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

Hawaii Pacific

CBU

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

11/6/2014 9:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- With both teams eyeing playoff spots and a chance to jump over the other in the PacWest standings, California Baptist University knew a battle was awaiting it when it hosted Hawaii Pacific Thursday night.

Despite dropping the first set, the Lancers rallied to force a fifth set for the second night in a row, but the visitors held on this time, as the Sharks took the match 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12. CBU outhit HPU .264 to .221, as Becky Moodie tallied a match-high 27 digs for the home team. Lauren Hackett finished with 19 kills on a .255 percentage, while Michelle Waber swung at a .283 clip with 16 kills and 15 digs. Amelia Tupou also had a double-double for the Lancers with 48 assists, 13 digs, four kills and three blocks.

CBU scored the first six points of the match, but Hawaii Pacific found a way to turn the tide and closed out the set, 25-21, on an 11-4 run. The Lancers halted their visitor's momentum by coming from behind in the second frame. Down 10-7, CBU scored six straight on two kills from Hackett and one each from Jessica Harris (seven blocks, six kills) and Waber to take a 13-10 lead.

HPU battled within two points on three occassions -- 16-14, 18-16 and 20-18 -- but CBU took charge on consecutive kills from Hackett and Harris, as it took a 22-18 edge. Hackett scored the Lancers' final three points of the set with two kills and an ace that clinched matters, 25-21.

It appeared the Lancers were long gone when they fell into a 14-5 hole in the third set, and trailed 21-11 late. CBU kept the scoreboard out of its mind and scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within 22-20. Hackett had three kills, Harris another and Moodie and Tupou had aces during the improbable run. Hawaii Pacific appeared to get things back under control again, as it led 24-21 but CBU did not quit and pulled within one on consecutive Sharks errors. Haley Doerfler kept the set from going extra points for HPU with a clutch kill to give her team a 2-1 lead in the match.

Undaunted, CBU showed its resiliency again in set four. Up 14-13, Lauren Marr (eight kills) sparked a 7-0 run with two kills. Jenna Perry (seven kills) added a spike of her own and Waber chipped in an ace. Now up 21-13, the Lancers could breathe a little easier, headed to a fifth set after kills form Tupou and Perry helped close it out.

Things were tight early in the fifth set, but HPU used a 3-0 run to take a 9-7 edge. Perry helped tie the set at 9-9 with a kill and CBU went on to take an 11-10 lead after another kill from Hackett. Another 3-0 Shark spurt gave them a 13-11 advantage. Waber brought the Lancers back within 13-12, but HPU fought off the attack and scored the final two points of the set.

CBU gets a break before regrouping for fourth-ranked BYU-Hawaii and its Senior Day Saturday at 2 p.m. Waber will be honored for her contributions to the Lancers this season, as she is the only senior on the squad.