CBU Secures Best NCAA Start

Friday, September 8

Anchorage, Alaska

4 PM

California Baptist University

5-0

Alaska Anchorage

3-3

California Baptist

Alaska Anchorage

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Secures Best NCAA Start

9/8/2017 10:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Over the last few years, the NCAA Division II West Region Volleyball Showcase has served as a make-or-break event for many team's postseason hopes.

California Baptist University has seized the opportunity three-fourths of the way through the top stage of the elite event at Alaska Anchorage, and swept both 14^th-ranked Alaska Anchorage (25-21, 25-22, 25-14) and Chico State (25-12, 25-16, 25-10) on Friday.

It gives the Lancers a 6-0 record, their best start to a season in their NCAA era (which began in 2013), with one more non-conference match left in Alaska against No. 11 Cal State San Bernardino Saturday at 2 p.m. PST.

CBU has now defeated both West Region finalists from last season, Western Washington (5-2) and Alaska Anchorage (3-3), along with Chico State (5-2). The No. 24 Lancers will open up the PacWest Conference and in their home gym next Thursday against 15^th-ranked Concordia (Calif.) at 7 p.m.

Over both matches Friday, setter Sydney Kralj finished with 71 assists, 22 digs, four kills and three aces. McKenna Witt led all attackers, with 24 kills and added 20 digs, while Lauren Hackett accumulated 22 kills and 22 digs each and Madison Witt contributed 18 kills and 11 digs.

Junior Nicci Hinderaker continued her defensive prowess, with 35 digs (5.83 a set), and Yagoda Jedrzejczak averaged two blocks a set, with 12 in all, to go along with seven kills.

CBU's defense was superb in both matches Friday. Against the defending West Region champion and Division II finalist Seawolves, the Lancers out dug (65-69) and out blocked (10-8) their opponent to hold UAA to a .024 hitting percentage (26-23-123). Hinderaker led the way on the back line, with 22 digs giving her more than 20 digs in each of the last three matches.

Jedrzejczak finished with a match-high five blocks, while Sydney Marks added four. Hackett finished with 14 kills and 10 digs, while McKenna chipped in 13 kills, 12 digs and three blocks. Kralj wound up with 38 assists, 14 digs, three blocks and two aces.

CBU opened the match on an 8-2 run on two kills from Hackett and a block and kill from Jedrzejczak. The Seawolves rallied and pulled within a point of the Lancers at 16-15. It was a back and forth game, but CBU never gave up the lead.

Up just one (20-19), a kill from Jedrzejczak and McKenna fueled a 4-0 Lancer run that gave them set point, 24-19, before a UAA attack error sealed the deal.

It was another strong finish that propelled CBU to a set-two win. The Lancers raced out to an impressive 18-8 lead in the game. The large cushion came on an 11-2 run highlighted by three kills and a block from Hackett, two Kralj aces and a kill and ace from McKenna.

There was no quit from the Seawolves, who fought all the way back to a 20-20 tie. CBU would not give up the lead, though, thanks to a kill from Madison. A combo block formed by McKenna and Marks gave CBU a 22-20 cushion and continued what was the set-clinching, 5-2 run. Kills from Madison, McKenna and Hackett provided the final three points in the set.

Far from complacent, the Lancers started the third set on an 11-3 run on two kills from Madison, and two kills and a block from Jedrzejczak. CBU called timeout when Alaska Anchorage pulled within 14-10 and then ended the match on an 11-4 charge. Two kills from McKenna and a block from Marks and Kralj made it 21-12 CBU. After two points from the Seawolves made it 21-14, the Lancers scored four consecutive, with Marks having a hand in the final three points on two blocks and a kill.

Defense continue to be the difference maker for CBU against the Wildcats in the nightcap. The Lancers held Chico State to a .000 hitting percentage (24-24-111), with its 11-1 advantage in blocking and a 51-40 lead in digs playing a huge part in the win.

Jedrzejczak found seven of her 12 blocks in the match, while Hackett added four to go along with 12 digs and eight kills. Madison came in with 10 kills and three blocks, while McKenna had 11 kills and eight digs.

The Lancers controlled things from start to finish with the Wildcats. CBU opened the match on a 4-1 run and never let the Wildcats closer than two points the rest of the way, with a 20-5 run giving the Lancers set point, 24-9.

Chico State managed to keep it a two-point deficit early in the second set, 8-6, but it quickly grew into a six-point hole, 13-7, when the Lancers launched into a 5-1 run on a kill and ace from McKenna. The Wildcats cut things back down to 14-10, but a 6-1 rally gave CBU a comfortable advantage of 20-11. Three blocks ignited the run, with Hackett and Jedrzejczak each coming up with two in that span.

CBU saved its best for last in the third set and took control quickly with a 15-4 run in that game for a 16-6 lead. The Lancers did not let up and finished the match on an 8-1 streak. Overall, they hit .417 (12-2-24) and posted a sideout percentage of 81 (9-11) in that set, with Hackett killing four balls and McKenna adding three kills in the game.