Lancers Battle Conference Leader to Five Sets

Thursday, November 8

Edinburg, Texas

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

19-9, 9-6WAC

UT Rio Grande Valley

20-8, 11-3WAC

California Baptist

UT Rio Grande Valley

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

Lancers Battle Conference Leader to Five Sets

11/8/2018 7:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

EDINBURG, Texas – With two Western Athletic Conference matches left in its debut season, California Baptist University had a chance to make a statement on the road against the current conference leader. The Lancers did just that, with the help of a historic defensive performance, in a five-set loss Thursday.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley won the first two sets and held match point in the fourth, but the Lancers fought back to force a fifth and deciding set. The Vaqueros just managed to defeat CBU (25-22, 25-14, 20-25, 26-24, 15-11).

CBU had 103 digs in the match, which is not only a program-high in the NCAA era but the third most in the rally-scoring era. It is also the first time the Lancers had more than 100 digs in a match since 2012.

Nicole Abreu led the defense, as she compiled 33 digs on Thursday. It not only set an NCAA-era record for digs in a match for the Lancers but was tied for the third most in CBU's rally-scoring era. It was also the first time since 2008 a Lancer had at least 33 digs in a match.

CBU's record moves to 19-9, 9-6 in the WAC, while the Vaqueros maintain their first-place lead in the conference at 20-8, 11-3. The Lancers end the WAC season at NM State (18-7, 8-4) on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Summer Avery, Tesa Oaks and Natalie Zimmerer all notched double-doubles in the match. Avery's double-double came on 20 digs and 18 kills on a .250 hitting percentage (18-5-52), along with two blocks. Oaks had 18 digs, 11 kills, three blocks and two aces, while Zimmerer tallied 40 assists, 12 digs and two kills.

Cassidy Dennison was the fifth Lancer with double-digit digs (12), while Yagoda Jedrzejczak had a team-high six blocks. Sydney Marks tallied seven kills and four blocks, as well.

After UTRGV won the first two sets, CBU created some momentum with a 25-20 win in set three. The Vaqueros were next-to desperate to end the match in four sets, and took match point, 24-23, in the game.

With their backs against the wall, the Lancers rattled off three-straight points to claim a come-from-behind 26-24 victory and force the fifth set. Oaks and Jedrzejczak both had kills in that 3-0 charge, which ended on a setting error from UTRGV.