Lancers Never Say Die

Friday, April 8

Manoa, Hawaii

10:00 PM

California Baptist University

14-15, 6-15MPSF

Hawaii

15-11, 10-11MPSF

California Baptist

Hawai`i

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

4/9/2016 12:18:00 AM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

HONOLULU — After No. 15-ranked UC Irvine took down No. 10-ranked Cal State Northridge the night before, it was 14th-ranked California Baptist University's turn to take care of business. In hopes of grabbing their first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament berth, the Lancers needed a win over No. 9-ranked Hawaii, and came into the weekend with two chances to do it (Friday and Saturday).

Despite going down two sets Friday, CBU never said die and almost pulled off a dramatic comeback, coming just short, 3-2 (25-21, 25-20, 25-27, 18-25, 15-9). It drops the Lancers to 14-15 on the year, 6-15 in the MPSF. Hawaii improves to 15-11 overall, 10-11 in conference.

As a team, CBU finished with a season-high 20.5 blocks. Enrique de Diego Garcia led the Lancers with nine block assists, while Arturo Iglesias followed with seven and Rocky DeLyon had six, plus a solo stuff.

Emmett Enriques led the Lancers with 17 digs on the night.

CBU came out fired up in the first set and scored the first point of the night, but soon found itself trailing 2-0 in the match. Hawaii took the first set 25-21 and followed with a 25-20 second-set win to put some pressure on the Lancers.

Desperate to extend the match, CBU needed a third-set victory. The score went back-and-forth to start the set, before the Lancers rattled off three-straight points to jump in front 4-2. Garcia (14 kills, .542 attack) started the spurt with a cross-court kill and Jackson Burge teamed up with two different teammates, DeLyon and Iglesias, to block back-to-back Hawaii attempts.

The Warriors responded with a 4-0 run before Roy Powell (16 kills) laid down a no-doubter to even it back at 6-6. Another Powell kill, a Hawaii error and Burge ace gave the Lancers back their lead, 9-7. The Warriors broke the run up briefly, but Luis Palos and Garcia kept CBU in front on consecutive kills, 11-8.

Seeing Hawaii creeping back into the picture, 14-13, DeLyon (19 kills) smacked down a kill with authority to keep his team in front and force a Warrior timeout.

CBU scored the first point out of the break, but Hawaii rattled off five-straight points to go in front 18-16. Garcia ended the run with a kill, before a net violation and attack error put CBU within one, 21-20.

Despite Hawaii reaching match point, 24-22, DeLyon kept the game alive with a kill from the right side. Palos, Burge and Powell followed with a combo block to force overtime, 24-24. The Warriors got the go-ahead point, 25-24, but the Lancers made things interesting as they scored three-straight points to take the set 27-25.

With new life, CBU opened the fourth set on a 5-1 run. Powell got the spurt going with the first kill of the set and a DeLyon and Garcia block capped the spurt. The Warriors cut within three, 6-3, but an attack error and DeLyon kill kept the Lancers in front by five, 8-3.

The Lancers got their largest lead of the night, 14-8, off a combo stuff from Garcia and Iglesias. Hawaii answered back, but Garcia took advantage of a free ball at the net to slam it home and keep CBU in front by six.

UH cut within one, 16-15, forcing a Lancer timeout. CBU came out of the break scoring two unanswered points, before the Warriors needed another break in the action. It didn't stop the Lancers' flow, however, as they built back their six-point lead, 22-16.

Once again, the Warriors called a timeout and got the next point, but CBU's comeback wasn't over as DeLyon and Palos put the Lancers at set point, 24-17, with a pair of kills. Hawaii managed to stay alive briefly, but DeLyon sealed the set victory with a kill down the middle, 25-18, taking the match to a fifth and deciding set.

Hawaii opened with the first point of the set, but CBU matched it with the next two to jump in front 2-1. Garcia laid down the first kill and then teamed up with Powell to block a Warrior attempt.

The score remained tight, with neither team allowing the other to grab a multi-point lead until UH went off to take a 10-5 edge. CBU called a timeout, but the Warriors kept pushing.

Still, the Lancers never gave up and brought the score back within five, 13-8. Hawaii reached match point, but Garcia kept the set going with a kill. Unfortunately, a service error ended the match in the Warriors' favor, 15-9.

CBU has a chance at redemption as the two teams square off again tomorrow night, with a similar 10:00 p.m. Pacific time start. It's the Lancers last guaranteed game, with postseason still up for grabs.