California Baptist University
6-15, 2-13
Long Beach State
12-9, 8-8
Plenty to Dig
3/18/2015 9:30:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Coming into its 13th match of the season against a top-15 ranked team, California Baptist University knew it was in for a challenge Wednesday night at No. 9 Long Beach State.
Kevin Kustura kept the Lancers alive with a personal career and new team season-high for digs in a match, with 17 on the night, before CBU fell in three sets to Long Beach State, 25-23, 25-19, 25-22. The performance is the fifth most digs in CBU single-match history and second most in three-set contests.
The Lancers' record is now 2-15, 2-13 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this season, while the 49ers are now 12-9, 8-8. CBU continues its road trip with a visit to Cal State Northridge on Friday at 7 p.m.
There were six ties and three lead changes in the first set. A 6-2 run, coming on two kills from Zachary Melcher and another from Roy Powell and Caleb Miller, gave the Lancers the largest advantage early on, 13-9. LBSU rebounded with an 8-2 run to grab a 17-15 edge. CBU managed to tie things back up at 18-18 but the 49ers quickly took back a 20-18 cushion and built their lead up to three, 23-20.
Powell started a 3-1 run with a kill that brought the Lancers back within a point, 24-23. CBU was unable to force an overtime set, as Long Beach State claimed a 25-23 victory.
Two ties came in the first set early on, as both teams were locked up at 10-10. The 49ers rattled off three-straight points to take a 13-10 lead. A Miller kill would bring the visitors within 16-14, but the Lancers would come no closer in a 25-19 loss.
CBU put together its best run in the third and final set. An 11-9 deficit quickly became a 15-12 lead after a 6-1 run from the Lancers. Two kills from Giovanni Llinas Rosa and one each from Jonathan Tuttle, Powell and Enrique de Diego Garcia highlighted the run.
LBSU pulled back within a point, 18-17, but CBU put some distance between itself and its competitor with a 3-1 run, with a Powell ace capping the spurt. The 49ers had one big final run left in it, as they ended the match on an 8-2 charge.
Powell finished with a team-high 12 kills and six digs. Melcher logged 29 assists. Garcia produced six blocks (two solo) and four kills for CBU.
