Frantic Finish

Saturday, March 14

Riverside

1:00 PM

California Baptist University

6-14

Lindenwood

7-7

Lindenwood

CBU

Photo by: Leigh Ann Lindsey

3/14/2015 3:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – California Baptist University came into its final non-conference match looking to keep its winning streak alive, but Lindenwood had other ideas.

The Lancers took a two-set lead to start the match in the Van Dyne Gym, but a dramatic overtime third set turned momentum into the Lions' favor. Lindenwood built on the victory to hold off a hot CBU squad in five, 23-25, 17-25, 33-31, 25-19, 15-13. California Baptist University's record moves to 6-14 and LWU improves to an even 7-7.

After setting a career high in kills last week, Roy Powell was even more dangerous Saturday with 24 kills on a .465 percentage (24 kills, four errors on 43 attempts). Zachary Melcher dished out 50 assists and helped Giovanni Llinas Rosa and Jonathan Tuttle each post 11 kills.

Llinas Rosa nearly pieced together a double-double with nine digs, while Tuttle chipped in six digs and three aces. Enrique de Diego Garcia logged eight kills and three blocks in his first match in an extended period after dealing with an injury. Caleb Miller also had a team-high seven blocks and two kills for CBU.

The first set was hotly contested, with neither side taking more than a two-point lead and 13 ties and six lead changes coming in the frame.

The Lions took a 23-22 edge, but Tuttle smashed a kill off a Melcher pass to tie things at 23-23. Llinas Rosa gave CBU set point, 24-23, with a kill and Powell sealed the dramatic win with a kill of his own.

CBU started heating up on both ends of the net in the second set. The Lancers attacked at a .471 percentage (27 kills, two errors on 17 attacks) and held Lindenwood to a .107 mark (12-9-28).

The Lions would take an early 9-5 lead in the set, but CBU managed to tie the score at 11-11 on kills from Tuttle, Powell and three unforced Lindenwood errors. Ties were forced at 12 and 13 before a 4-0 Lancer run on kills from Powell and Llinas Rosa gave the home team a 17-13 edge. The cushion grew to as big as seven, 22-15, on several Lion miscues.

Powell and Miller gave CBU set point, 24-17, with a kill each and a Lindenwood attacking error delivered the 25-17 Lancer win.

As expected, things were close again in the third. A 3-0 run, finished on a Powell kill, gave the Lancers an 11-8 lead, but Lindenwood pulled back within a point, 14-13. Four-straight CBU points – highlighted by a Powell kill and Tuttle ace gave the Lancers an 18-13 advantage.

The Lions would move back within 22-20, but CBU worked its way to match point, 24-21, with a Powell spike. Lindenwood would rally all the way back to take a 25-24 lead and begin a wild back-and-forth finish. LWU finally pulled out the win, 33-31, to turn momentum in its favor.

Lindenwood kept coming and took the second set, 25-19, to force a fifth. The Lions took a 10-7 lead in the finale but consecutive errors brought CBU within a point, 10-9. The visitors would work their way to match point, 14-10, before the Lancers dug in their heels.

CBU charged back within a point, 14-13, on a Garcia kill. Lindenwood was able to bounce back and evade overtime, taking the next point to deliver the win.

The Lancers travel outside of the Van Dyne Gym for 12 days, with road Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge scheduled in that span on Wednesday and Friday.