Targeting the Toros

Saturday, September 5

Belmont, Calif.

8:30 AM

California Baptist University

2-1

Chico State

3-0

California Baptist

Chico State

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

9/5/2015 8:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

BELMONT, Calif. – For the second day in a row, California Baptist University needed to overcome some adversity to get a win at the Route 92 Showdown.

After a tough, five-set loss to Chico State (25-19, 18-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13) to start Saturday, the Lancers bounced back in a big way with a sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills (25-17, 25-20, 25-18) to end the first week of the season at 3-1. The Wildcats stand at 3-0 and the Toros slide to 1-3.

Lauren Hackett and Jenna Perry each had 30 kills on the day, with Perry doing so on a .407 percentage and Hackett picking up her second and third double-doubles in four matches this year. Jordyn Siko logged 87 assists and 22 digs for the Lancers, while Tori Ortman continued her strong play at libero with a team-high 35 digs. Jessica Harris manned the net as strong as ever, blocking 13 shots over the two matches.

CBU had played an extra set in its first three matches of 2015 and came out determined for an early exit against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Lancers got just that by hitting .303 (43 kills, 13 errors on 99 attempts) and defending the Toros to a .066 clip (27-20-106). Perry led CBU in kills in the match with 16, while Siko (37 assists, 13 digs) and Hackett (11 kills, 10 digs) each had double-doubles.

Tied at 10-10 in the early going, the Lancers established themselves with an 8-3 run, with Abbie Gortsema providing two kills over that span. CSUDH pulled back within 18-15 but CBU got some extra insurance in the form of a 22-15 lead after consecutive Siko aces.

The Toros would stay even with CBU late in set two, as things were knotted at 17-17. The Lancers flipped a switch from there and grabbed set point with a 7-1 run capped by two Hackett kills and an Ortman ace.

Two extended runs gave CBU the win in set three. A 4-1 spurt spearheaded by three Perry kills gave the Lancers a 17-14 lead. Cal State Dominguez Hills crawled within two, 19-17, before CBU wrapped things up with a 6-1 charge.

Despite the loss, the Lancers blocked extremely well against the Wildcats, as well, with a 29-5 advantage there. Harris led the way with nine blocks, while Gortsema and Perry contributed six each. Five players also posted double-digit digs for CBU, led by Ortman's 22.

After dropping the first set, CBU grabbed some momentum with wins in the second and third. Two lengthy runs led the Lancers to a second-set win. Two kills from Siko and one each from Kristin McCord and Taylor Brubaker made up a 6-0 CBU run that gave it a 10-4 edge. A 5-0 spurt highlighted by two Hackett kills gave the Lancers an 18-8 cushion that was plenty enough.

In set three, CBU trailed 14-10 about halfway through before it tied things up with three Wildcat errors and a Perry kill. Chico State moved back in front, 18-16, moments before the Lancers rattled off a set-clinching 9-2 run that was sparked by a Gortsema kill.

Chico State was back in the driver's seat after winning set four and taking an 11-7 lead in the fifth. Harris forced sideout with a kill and picked up another after two Siko aces, giving the Lancers a 5-1 run and tie at 12-12. A 3-1 run allowed the Wildcats to just escape with the win.

CBU will look to build on its 3-1 record at the second annual GNAC-PacWest Crossover, hosted by Seattle Pacific Thursday through Saturday. The Lancers will face Alaska Fairbanks, Simon Fraser, SPU and Montana State Billings in the tournament.