Digging Down Deep

Friday, December 1

Riverside, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

29-1

Cal State San Bernardino

23-7

CS San Bernardino

California Baptist

Photo by: Conner Schuh

12/1/2017 11:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — With their backs against the wall, the No. 1-ranked California Baptist University Lancers dug deep but ultimately fell 3-1 to Cal State San Bernardino Friday night.

The Lancers finish a historic season 29-1, while the Coyotes advance to the NCAA Division II West Region Championship Saturday.

McKenna Witt finished with a double-double, leading CBU with 20 kills at a .326 clip. Defensively, she chipped in 14 digs and also assisted on a block. Lauren Hackett finished with 15 kills, two blocks and seven digs, while Madison Witt contributed 12 kills, five blocks and five digs on the night.

Like she has all year, Sydney Kralj drove the Lancer offense, finishing with 47 assists and 12 digs. Nicci Hinderaker (three aces) and Elizabeth Gilley (two aces) each finished with 12 digs to keep CBU fighting.

After dropping the first set 25-21, CBU bounced back with a 25-17 win in the second, but it took some grit.

The Lancers found themselves trailing 8-5, but found their groove to go on a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. McKenna (two) and Kralj each had kills in that span, while the Coyotes committed two errors as well.

CSUSB tried to stay with the Lancers, pulling within one, 11-10, but a Madison kill put Hackett at the service line. She laid down a kill in the next play and a Coyote error gave CBU a 14-10 lead to force a Cal State San Bernardino timeout.

The Coyotes managed to cut the lead to two, 18-16, but CBU hit another gear to jump in front 22-16. Hackett had a hand in two of those points, a kill and a solo stuff, while Yagoda Jedrzejczak smacked down a kill and teamed up with Kralj for a combo block, 22-16.

The run was broken up briefly, but CBU was unstoppable as Madison sealed the victory with a kill off a Gilley assist, 25-17.

Cal State San Bernardino took the third set, putting pressure on CBU to win the fourth and force a fifth.

The Lancers found themselves down 3-0 early, but didn't cave. CBU responded on a 5-0 spurt, including two aces from Hinderaker.

CSUSB took back the lead and looked like it might coast through the set, up 21-17. CBU had other ideas, however, and battled back to 22-21 off back-to-back kills from Madison. The Coyotes caught a break as a Lancer was called in the net, leading to the 25-22 set win to take the match.

CBU has nothing to hang its hat on, however, after setting new program records for best win streak and best start to the season, along with a PacWest Championship and first-ever No. 1 ranking.