Friday, October 22
Abilene, Texas
11 AM
California Baptist University
vs
Tarleton State
Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com
VB Preview: Lancers Prepare for Matches Against WAC Southwest Division Foes in Texas
10/20/2021 9:10:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE – California Baptist University volleyball will face two Southwest Division opponents in the Western Athletic Conference this week.
The Lancers will head to Abilene Christian to play on back-to-back days against Tarleton State and the host Wildcats. This is the first season the WAC is doing pod play, as Abilene Christian, Grand Canyon and Lamar are each hosting four-team pods this weekend.
CBU swept both matches in a home-and-home with Seattle U last week to improve to 9-8 this year and 4-3 in the WAC. It puts the Lancers in a two-way tie for third place in the West Division.
Tarleton State has won three of its last four matches to improve to 10-10, 2-3, while Abilene Christian has dropped four of its last five to fall to 7-9, 1-4. The Texans and Wildcats are fourth and fifth out of six teams in the Southwest Division as a result.
SERIES NOTES
This will be CBU's third-ever meeting with Tarleton State. The Lancers won both match versus the Texans in Stephenville last season, with a sweep (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) and four-set win (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20). It will be CBU's first match against Abilene Christian.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Paige Johnstone was named the WAC Defender of the Week on Monday after she averaged 5.83 digs a set (35 overall) and made just one reception error on 28 attempts. She also had eight assists and two aces on the week. She had a 15-dig, two-ace performance for Johnstone on Thursday and was even better on Saturday, with 20 digs and five assists in three sets.
It was Johnstone's 13th double-digit dig performance this season and third match with at least 20 digs, although this was her first time doing it in three sets this year. The junior libero has eclipsed double-digit digs in nine of her last 11 matches, with the two exceptions being nine-dig matches.
Overall, Johnstone's 4.19 digs per set this season rank third in CBU's single-season history in the NCAA era. For her career, she ranks second in the Lancers' NCAA era with 3.43 digs a set and eighth in total digs (570).
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Anouk van Noord put together a historic match against Seattle U last Thursday. The senior transfer and opposite hitter from UMBC had 10 kills on a .909 hitting percentage – comprised of 10 kills and no errors on 11 attacks. It's the second-best hitting percentage in CBU's single-match history and an NCAA-era record for the Lancers. It was not at all far off the record of .933 (14-0-15) set by Angela Willis against Houston Baptist on Sept. 2, 2006.
OPPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
Tarleton State has been particularly formidable when it comes to blocking, as it averages two a set, and efficiency offensively with a .232 hitting percentage as a team. Lauren Kersey is the top threat offensively with 255 kills (3.40 a set) on a .305 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Ana Costa leads the Texans in digs with 4.48 digs a set and 224 overall. Lorin McNeil leads the blockers with 81 in total and a 1.08 per set average.
Setters Kayla Brannon (461, 6.40) and Melina Maldonado (200, 3.03) obviously lead TSU in assists but also have a team-high 19 aces each. McNeil also has 18 aces this year.
Abilene Christian's strength statistically has been its back-row defense, as it averages more digs than its opponents at 15.7 to 15.1.
Lindsey Toney is the Wildcats' point leader by far with 5.24 a set, with the next player coming in at 2.91. Her 4.71 kills a set are two more than her next teammate, as well. She also ranks second on the team with 16 aces (0.36).
Madison Rohre is the everyday setter with 10.47 assists a set. Madison Lawler has a team-high 4.49 digs a set and .976 reception percentage, while Braden Bossier averages a block a set.
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: Tarleton State and Abilene Christian
Dates: October 22 & 23
Times: 11 a.m. & 10 a.m. Pacific
Location: Abilene, Texas (Teague Center)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: Tarleton State | Abilene Christian
Video: ESPN+ & WAC Digital Network (international viewers only): Abilene Christian
The Lancers will head to Abilene Christian to play on back-to-back days against Tarleton State and the host Wildcats. This is the first season the WAC is doing pod play, as Abilene Christian, Grand Canyon and Lamar are each hosting four-team pods this weekend.
CBU swept both matches in a home-and-home with Seattle U last week to improve to 9-8 this year and 4-3 in the WAC. It puts the Lancers in a two-way tie for third place in the West Division.
Tarleton State has won three of its last four matches to improve to 10-10, 2-3, while Abilene Christian has dropped four of its last five to fall to 7-9, 1-4. The Texans and Wildcats are fourth and fifth out of six teams in the Southwest Division as a result.
SERIES NOTES
This will be CBU's third-ever meeting with Tarleton State. The Lancers won both match versus the Texans in Stephenville last season, with a sweep (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) and four-set win (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20). It will be CBU's first match against Abilene Christian.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Paige Johnstone was named the WAC Defender of the Week on Monday after she averaged 5.83 digs a set (35 overall) and made just one reception error on 28 attempts. She also had eight assists and two aces on the week. She had a 15-dig, two-ace performance for Johnstone on Thursday and was even better on Saturday, with 20 digs and five assists in three sets.
It was Johnstone's 13th double-digit dig performance this season and third match with at least 20 digs, although this was her first time doing it in three sets this year. The junior libero has eclipsed double-digit digs in nine of her last 11 matches, with the two exceptions being nine-dig matches.
Overall, Johnstone's 4.19 digs per set this season rank third in CBU's single-season history in the NCAA era. For her career, she ranks second in the Lancers' NCAA era with 3.43 digs a set and eighth in total digs (570).
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Anouk van Noord put together a historic match against Seattle U last Thursday. The senior transfer and opposite hitter from UMBC had 10 kills on a .909 hitting percentage – comprised of 10 kills and no errors on 11 attacks. It's the second-best hitting percentage in CBU's single-match history and an NCAA-era record for the Lancers. It was not at all far off the record of .933 (14-0-15) set by Angela Willis against Houston Baptist on Sept. 2, 2006.
OPPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
Tarleton State has been particularly formidable when it comes to blocking, as it averages two a set, and efficiency offensively with a .232 hitting percentage as a team. Lauren Kersey is the top threat offensively with 255 kills (3.40 a set) on a .305 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Ana Costa leads the Texans in digs with 4.48 digs a set and 224 overall. Lorin McNeil leads the blockers with 81 in total and a 1.08 per set average.
Setters Kayla Brannon (461, 6.40) and Melina Maldonado (200, 3.03) obviously lead TSU in assists but also have a team-high 19 aces each. McNeil also has 18 aces this year.
Abilene Christian's strength statistically has been its back-row defense, as it averages more digs than its opponents at 15.7 to 15.1.
Lindsey Toney is the Wildcats' point leader by far with 5.24 a set, with the next player coming in at 2.91. Her 4.71 kills a set are two more than her next teammate, as well. She also ranks second on the team with 16 aces (0.36).
Madison Rohre is the everyday setter with 10.47 assists a set. Madison Lawler has a team-high 4.49 digs a set and .976 reception percentage, while Braden Bossier averages a block a set.
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponent: Tarleton State and Abilene Christian
Dates: October 22 & 23
Times: 11 a.m. & 10 a.m. Pacific
Location: Abilene, Texas (Teague Center)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: Tarleton State | Abilene Christian
Video: ESPN+ & WAC Digital Network (international viewers only): Abilene Christian
Players Mentioned
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