CBU Digs Down Deep For Another Sweep

Friday, September 23

Belmont, Calif.

7 p.m.

California Baptist University

8-3, 3-0

Notre Dame de Namur

3-7, 1-1

California Baptist

Notre Dame de Namur

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Digs Down Deep For Another Sweep

9/23/2016 9:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

BELMONT, Calif. -- After its daunting non-conference season, California Baptist University knew it was ready for PacWest play. Ever since conference action started last week, the Lancers have rattled off three-straight sweeps, picking up their most recent at Notre Dame de Namur on Friday night.

Defensive intensity, particularly on the backrow from three standouts, and the offensive efficiency its become known for continued to lead CBU to a 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 win over the Argonauts. The Lancers improve to 8-3, 3-0 in PacWest and NDNU drops to 3-7, 1-1.

Lauren Hackett produced her second double-double in as many matches on Friday, with 16 kills on a .361 percentage (16 kills, three errors on 36 attempts), 13 digs and two aces. Senior libero Tori Ortman joined Hackett with 13 digs, while Kristin McCord added 12 of her own to lead CBU to a 58-48 advantage in digs over NDNU, despite facing eight fewer attacks.

Sydney Kralj, CBU's junior setter, put up 43 assists and nine digs in just three sets. Jenna Perry hit .344 on the night, 15 kills on 34 swings, while Lauren Marr added nine kills, as well. In the middle, Abbie Gortsema and Jessica Harris each contributed four blocks, along with five and three kills, respectively. Perry and Marr each pitched in three blocks of their own.

CBU actually found itself behind, 14-12, in set one, but Coach Branden Higa had total faith in his team. Without the use of a timeout, a Kralj kill forced sideout and then three-straight Hackett kills put the Lancers ahead, 16-14. NDNU fought back within a point, but then CBU unleashed a 7-0 run behind Kralj's serves to take set point, 24-16. Hackett and Harris each had a block and kill in that substantial run that gave the Lancers a 25-17 win in the opener.

Perry had a hand in the first-four points in set two, with three kills and a block, to give CBU a 4-0 lead immediately. Consecutive kills from Perry build the Lancers' edge to five, 14-9, in the middle of the set. The Argonauts managed to fight back within two points, 23-21, but a Hackett spike gave CBU set point and then one of her aces ended it.

Notre Dame de Namur scratched out another lead in set three, 11-8, but then the Lancers took the momentum back for good with a 14-1 run. Gortsema had three blocks and two kills in that span, while Perry had three kills and a block to help put CBU up 22-12.

CBU finishes its Northern California road trip through the PacWest Saturday versus Dominican at 4 p.m.