CBU Sweeps Pivotal PacWest Match

Saturday, October 29

Honolulu, Hawaii (St. Andrew's Priory)

9 p.m.

California Baptist University

Hawai’i Pacific

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

CBU Sweeps Pivotal PacWest Match

10/29/2016 10:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Something had to give, with both California Baptist University and Hawaii Pacific going into Saturday night's PacWest match tied for second place in the conference standings.

Defense led the Lancers past the Sharsk for the 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 sweep. CBU concludes the two-match trip through Honolulu with a 16-5, 11-2 in conference record and Hawaii Pacific drops to 14-8, 10-3.

CBU trails first-place Concordia (21-2, 12-2) by one match in the conference standings. The Eagles will visit the Lancers during a two-match homestand in the Van Dyne gym next week. Academy of Art drops by Thursday at 7 p.m. and Concordia is up for a pivotal match Saturday at 2 p.m.

Defensively, CBU out blocked HPU 12-3 and out dug its opponent 49-39 to hold the Sharks to a .079 hitting percentage. The Lancers were sharp on serve receive, allowing just one ace and posting six of their own.

Lauren Hackett posted a double-double with 13 kills on a .312 percentage (13-3-32), 13 digs and five blocks. Tori Ortman logged 11 digs, while Jenna Perry's balanced performance resulted in nine digs, eight kills and five blocks. Abbie Gortsema spearheaded the block party with eight blocks in just three sets.

CBU opened the first set on a 4-0 run on two Lauren Marr kills and another from Perry. The Lancers widened their lead to as much as seven, 12-5, on a Hackett kill in the early going, but the Sharks fought back to force ties at 15-15 and 17-17.

Sydney Kralj started CBU on another 4-0 run that gave her team a 21-17 advantage. Hackett notched a kill and Kristin McCord aced the defense during the spurt.

The Lancers rallied from a 6-4 deficit in set two and took a 15-9 lead, thanks to a 9-5 run coming on four Gortsema blocks and two kills from Hackett. HPU climbed back within three points, 19-16, but a Marr kill and Elizabeth Gilley ace put CBU up five, 21-16, en route to the win.

The 2-0 match lead gave the Lancers all the confidence to secure the sweep. They jumped out to a 5-1 lead in set three. Two blocks sparked another 4-0 run that put CBU up 13-5, and the visitors kept the eight-point lead going for most of the set.