CBU Capitalizes on Eagle Errors

Saturday, September 30

Irvine, Calif.

5 PM

California Baptist University

13-0, 5-0PWC

Concordia (Calif.)

4-8, 0-5PWC

CBU

Concordia, Irvine

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Capitalizes on Eagle Errors

9/30/2017 6:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

IRVINE, Calif. – Throughout this season, California Baptist University has shown its defense doesn't need any help, but a handful of opponent errors helped the seventh-ranked Lancers sweep Concordia University of Irvine on the road Saturday, 25-19, 25-12, 25-20.

It gives CBU the season-series sweep over the defending PacWest champion Eagles, as well. The Lancers improve to 13-0, 5-0 in conference this year and CUI drops to 4-8, 0-5. Academy of Art is up next, with CBU playing host on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Van Dyne Gym.

Boasting a stout defense on the back line and at the net, the Lancers held Concordia to a .096 hitting percentage, with 31 kills and 20 errors on 114 attempts. CBU out blocked and out dug the Eagles 6-3 and 48-41, respectively.

"Our serving and defensive game led the way for us," Coach Branden Higa said. "When we can put pressure on them serving, chase down a lot of balls and not make errors when we attack, that forces teams to press. They have to do a little more than they're comfortable with. We have seen that where the other team starts out hot early but they make more and more errors, whether we're blocking or they're just trying to be perfect and hit it out."

McKenna Witt recorded a double-double, with a match-high 12 kills and 14 digs, while hitting .478 (12-1-23). Sydney Marks was a dual threat, as well, with nine kills on a .429 clip (9-3-14) and four blocks.

Meanwhile, Nicci Hinderaker averaged five digs a set, with 15 in all, at libero. Madison Witt was the third Lancer with double-digit digs, along with nine kills. Lauren Hackett also had 10 kills in the match.

Sydney Kralj had CBU's offense attacking at a .308 mark (46-13-107) as a unit, while notching 33 assists, four kills on six attempts, three blocks and five digs.

"McKenna just took care of whatever play was in front of her," Higa said. "She does that every match, though, she's a high efficiency hitter, especially as an outside. She hasn't had a match where she's made a lot of errors. She can get to the ball and move around her shots, which makes her really hard to defend. Tonight, they were falling for her."

Set one was close in the early going, with a kill putting Concordia down by one, 11-10. The Lancers took control with a 5-0 run coming on a block and kill from McKenna, a Hackett ace and three Eagle errors.

CUI managed to pull within four, 21-17, but the Lancers ended the set on a 4-2 run, with a solo block from Kralj and kills from Hackett, Madison and McKenna ending things.

Set two was tied 7-7, but a McKenna kill gave CBU sideout. She went to the service line and served tough to spark a 7-0 run for a 14-7 Lancer advantage. McKenna had two aces in the run, while Marks had a kill and a block.

Marks fueled a 6-0 charge from CBU, with three kills, to help end the set by putting her team up 23-11. Madison made it set point with a kill and an attack error sealed the two-game lead for the Lancers.

A 9-3 rally from the Lancers opened up set three, with five Concordia errors, two kill from Madison and one each from Hackett and McKenna composing the run. The Eagles fought to keep things close and trailed 21-16 late in the set.

A service error kept CBU in control, though, and two Hackett kills and two more Eagle miscues helped end the match in the Lancers' favor.