Tuesday, November 13
Fullerton, Calif.
7:00 PM
California Baptist University
20-10
3
at
1
Cal State Fullerton
6-22
1
2
3
4
F
California Baptist
25
17
25
25
3
Cal State Fullerton
17
25
20
18
1
Photo by: Emeline Delanis
CBU Secures 20-Win Season in D-I Debut
11/13/2018 10:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Much like its entire first season in Division I, California Baptist University displayed determination and poise in its final regular season match at Cal State Fullerton Tuesday night.
Propelled by a strong start and adjustments throughout, the Lancers defeated Cal State Fullerton in four sets (25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 25-18) in their regular-season finale on the road. CBU finishes its first year in Division I with a 20-10 record overall for its fourth consecutive 20-win season.
"It would have been very easy and very explainable to let the moment or the magnitude of the jump be too much," Coach Branden Higa said of the team's first D-I season. "The way this team has gone about this season has been with grace, poise and they played together -- it's an incredible team.''
The Lancers will have to wait and see if their season will continue, as they have an opportunity to compete in the 2018 National Invitational Volleyball Championship if selected for the 32-to-40 team postseason tournament on Sunday, Nov. 25th.
With the score tied 9-9 in the first set Tuesday, the Lancers used a 13-5 run to pull away en route to the 25-17 win. Cal State Fullerton won the second set 25-17 and then led 6-1 lead in the third set.
"We knew we needed to make an adjustment and make them handle the ball," Higa said. "The team took to that and ran with it. We let our defense, blocking and serving help us score."
A 16-5 run started by a 9-0 charge put the Lancers ahead 17-10 in the crucial third game. A kill by Sydney Marks gave CBU a 22-17 lead, and Megan Sester finished off the set with a kill for the 25-20 victory.
The fourth set was controlled by the Lancers, who built a 9-5 lead and stretched it to 20-9 after a long rally. A kill by Summer Avery made it 21-10, and Sester clinched the set and match win with the final two kills. Summer Avery nearly added another double-double for CBU, with nine kills and 11 digs.
Natalie Zimmerer led CBU with 37 assists and added 12 digs and five kills. Cassidy Dennison (two aces) and Nicole Abreu (seven assists) each had a team-high 21 digs. Sester finished with 15 kills, and Marks had 11 on a .333 percentage and three blocks.
Another highlight was the teamwork and adjustments made by the Lancers, who were down one of their regular starters.
"One key was Ellie Voss, a freshman middle blocker,'' said Higa, as she had five kills and just one error to go along with three blocks. "We needed her to play opposite tonight. She hit and blocked well and made a real difference."
Propelled by a strong start and adjustments throughout, the Lancers defeated Cal State Fullerton in four sets (25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 25-18) in their regular-season finale on the road. CBU finishes its first year in Division I with a 20-10 record overall for its fourth consecutive 20-win season.
"It would have been very easy and very explainable to let the moment or the magnitude of the jump be too much," Coach Branden Higa said of the team's first D-I season. "The way this team has gone about this season has been with grace, poise and they played together -- it's an incredible team.''
The Lancers will have to wait and see if their season will continue, as they have an opportunity to compete in the 2018 National Invitational Volleyball Championship if selected for the 32-to-40 team postseason tournament on Sunday, Nov. 25th.
With the score tied 9-9 in the first set Tuesday, the Lancers used a 13-5 run to pull away en route to the 25-17 win. Cal State Fullerton won the second set 25-17 and then led 6-1 lead in the third set.
"We knew we needed to make an adjustment and make them handle the ball," Higa said. "The team took to that and ran with it. We let our defense, blocking and serving help us score."
A 16-5 run started by a 9-0 charge put the Lancers ahead 17-10 in the crucial third game. A kill by Sydney Marks gave CBU a 22-17 lead, and Megan Sester finished off the set with a kill for the 25-20 victory.
The fourth set was controlled by the Lancers, who built a 9-5 lead and stretched it to 20-9 after a long rally. A kill by Summer Avery made it 21-10, and Sester clinched the set and match win with the final two kills. Summer Avery nearly added another double-double for CBU, with nine kills and 11 digs.
Natalie Zimmerer led CBU with 37 assists and added 12 digs and five kills. Cassidy Dennison (two aces) and Nicole Abreu (seven assists) each had a team-high 21 digs. Sester finished with 15 kills, and Marks had 11 on a .333 percentage and three blocks.
Another highlight was the teamwork and adjustments made by the Lancers, who were down one of their regular starters.
"One key was Ellie Voss, a freshman middle blocker,'' said Higa, as she had five kills and just one error to go along with three blocks. "We needed her to play opposite tonight. She hit and blocked well and made a real difference."
Team Stats
CBUBLU~1
CSF
Kills
50
44
Errors
21
29
Attempts
169
166
Hitting %
.172
.090
Points
61.0
52.0
Assists
45
43
Aces
5
5
Blocks
6.0
3.0
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballS
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