Seasiders Scare

Saturday, November 8

Riverside

2:00 PM

California Baptist University

BYU-Hawaii

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

11/8/2014 4:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In its final appearance in the Van Dyne Gym this regular season, California Baptist University hoped to knock off the fourth-ranked team in NCAA Division II Saturday afternoon. The Lancers gave BYU-Hawaii a tough match, but ultimately fell in four sets, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21.

CBU outside hitter Michelle Waber had a standout performance on her Senior Day, with 17 kills and a season-high 23 digs in the loss. Lauren Hackett notched a team-high 18 kills for CBU, which fell to 15-11, 11-7 in the PacWest. BYU-Hawaii improved to 19-5, 16-2 to remain atop the conference standings.

The Lancers outhit the defending conference champion and 2013 Division II runner-up Seasiders, .182 to .170, with Becky Moodie leading the home team with 20 digs. Jessica Harris and Amelia Tupou (30 assists, eight digs) also had five blocks for CBU.

Looking to avenge their loss at BYU-Hawaii earlier in the year, the Lancers came out determined in the first set. Despite falling into a 16-10 hole, CBU rallied and forced a tie at 17-17 behind three kills from Waber. A 5-0 run fueled on two kills from Hackett and another from Waber gave the Lancers set point, 24-19, before Hackett clinched the set with a kill.

While the Seasiders rallied for three-straight sets, CBU mounted late charges each time to make them sweat. Down 21-13 in the second set, the Lancers forced a BYUH timeout as it pulled within 23-18 on four Hackett spikes. Consecutive errors and another Hackett kill moved CBU all the way within 23-21 but the Seasiders' nationally-renowned outside hitter Shih Ting Chen (21 kills, 13 digs) powered down a kill to break the momentum and eventually win the set, 25-21.

In the third set, CBU faced a 21-15 deficit but climbed back within three, 23-20, on two kills from Kristin McCord and another from Lauren Marr (nine kills). BYU-Hawaii clinched the set on a 2-0 run again, though. The Seasiders were forced to call another late timeout in the fourth set, as they saw a 21-14 lead trimmed to 21-18 after three errors and a Harris kill. Waber scored the Lancers' next three points with kills, but BYUH held on for the victory on a kill from Lacy Miyahira Lange.

CBU closes out the regular season with visits to PacWest rivals Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific Wednesday and Friday, respectively, with each starting at 7 p.m.