Battles of Unbeatens

Wednesday, January 13

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

3-1, 0-1MPSF

Cal State Northridge

5-0, 1-0MPSF

Cal Baptist

CSUN

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

1/13/2016 9:11:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Coming into its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener looking to extend its program-best, season-starting winning streak, California Baptist University fought from start to finish at Cal State Northridge.

Unfortunately for the Lancers, they could not overcome 14^th-ranked CSUN in the Matadome Wednesday night, falling in three sets (25-19, 25-16, 25-23). CBU, which is receiving votes in this week's NCAA Division I-II top-15 poll released by the Association of Volleyball Coaches of America, falls to 3-1, 0-1 in MPSF. The Matadors improve to 5-0, 1-0.

CBU's Enrique de Diego Garcia had six kills and no errors on 11 swings for a .545 hitting percentage, to go along with his team-high two blocks. Rocky DeLyon and Roy Powell continued to lead CBU's offense, with nine and seven kills, respectively. Powell and DeLyon, the senior pin-hitting duo, also had a respective team-high five and four digs.

Arturo Iglesias and Zachary Melcher split time at setter, contributing 19 and 10 assists.

The Lancers came close to forcing an extra set, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the third frame on a Rohit Paul ace and combo block from DeLyon, Garcia and Melcher. CBU kept its lead alive until CSUN rallied to tie things at 13-13.

A Cody Jackson ace highlighted a 3-0 run that gave the Lancers an 18-15 lead and forced a Matador timeout. CSUN was able to regroup and take a 22-20 edge, but CBU fought back into a tie on a Jackson kill and attack error from the home team.

Consecutive kills gave the Matadors match point, 24-22, and a kill from Caleb Miller kept CBU in it before CSUN escaped with the win on one more kill of its own.

In the first set, CBU answered a CSUN run right away. A 4-0 charge from the Matadors gave them a 13-8 edge. The Lancers then rattled off the next four points on kills from Powell, Paul and a combo block from Paul and Garcia. Another Powell kill kept CBU within a point, 17-16, but the Matadors started to pull away with another 4-0 run that made it 21-16.

A 7-2 run in the middle of the action guided CSUN to a 20-12 lead and eventual victory in the second set.

The Lancers will look to regroup, but face another ranked MPSF opponent Friday. CBU heads to No. 3 Long Beach State for a 7:00 p.m. first serve time. The Lancers open at home next week, hosting No. 2 UCLA on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.