California Baptist University
4-3,0-0WAC
Southern Utah
3-6,0-0Big Sky
Lancers Go Undefeated In CBU/UCR Tournament, Sweep Crosstown Showdown with Highlanders
9/11/2021 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Lancers start the day with a thrilling five-set win over Southern Utah and then swept UC Riverside to improve their record to 5-3 this season. CBU has now won five of its last six matches after going 3-0 this weekend. Southern Utah saw its record fall to 3-6 on the year, while UC Riverside is now 3-4.
LANCERS WIN❗️
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 12, 2021
CBU wins its third-straight match, fifth of its last six and stays an undefeated 3-0 in the Crosstown Showdown series in the NCAA Division I era with a sweep of UC Riverside in the Van Dyne Gym. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/o3TqX1glo6
There were big contributions all over the place for the Lancers on Saturday. Tesa Oaks averaged 3.5 kills a set on a .292 hitting percentage (28-9-65) on the day, while Christine Graf put up 2.75 kills and 0.63 blocks a set.
Both Lancer setters had big performances, as Leah Pease averaged 4.88 assists and 2.75 digs a set, while Hana Okuhara averaged 3.88 assists and 1.5 digs. Middle blockers Chandler Gorman (1.38) and Laura Walewska (1.14) each averaged more than a block a set, as well.
California Baptist will stay in Southern California to take part in the Big West/WAC Matchup Tournament next week at UC Irvine. The Lancers will face two more Big West Conference teams in Cal State Fullerton on Friday at 3 p.m. and the host Anteaters Saturday at 7 p.m.
After being pushed to five sets in first match of the day, the Lancers did away with any dramatics against the Highlanders, thanks to strong serving and a formidable block. CBU's defense held UCR to a .106 hitting percentage, with the help of nine blocks.
Offensively, California Baptist hit .329 and was led by Oaks' 10 kills on a .389 clip (10-3-18). Gorman had five blocks and three kills on five swings. Anna Jackson also had four blocks and five kills.
Tesa Oaks secures kill #⃣🔟 of the match in style#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/A8VfaCRU6p
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 12, 2021
Pease put up 16 assists and six digs, while Okuhara had 11 assists in the match. Paige Johnstone (nine digs) and Jennifer Blessing had the hot hands at the service line, with five and three aces, respectively.
In case anyone is wondering, Paige Johnstone has three aces in the first set 😯#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/NSm1TmlE7v
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 12, 2021
The Lancers came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Southern Utah in five sets (28-26, 19-25, 23-25, 25-20, 18-16) in their first match Saturday. Defense proved to be the difference in the match, as CBU came up with 13 blocks and out dug the Thunderbirds 75-60.
LANCERS WIN❗️
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 11, 2021
CBU rallies from a 2-1 deficit to win in five. The Lancers got double-doubles from Leah Pease (23 assists, 16 digs) and Hana Okuhara (20 assists, 11 digs), 18 kills from Tesa Oaks and 16 more from Christine Graf. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lARpSMWDLc
Setters Leah Pease and Hana Okuhara each had impressive double-doubles. Pease finished with 23 assists and 16 digs and Okuhara had 20 assists and 11 digs. Cassidy Dennison and Paige Johnstone each had 14 digs, as well, to give the Lancers four players in double-digit digs.
🎯 CHRISTINE GRAF 🎯
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 11, 2021
Give her 12 kills on a .400 hitting percentage for the match.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/0FEWOdJ7U2
Tesa Oaks and Christine Graf did a bulk of the damage on offense. Graf put together another phenomenal match with 16 kills on a .343 hitting percentage (16-4-35), while Oaks had a match-high 18 kills. Both were big in CBU's success on the block, as Oaks had five blocks and five digs and Graf had four blocks, as well.
It's a block party 🥳
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 11, 2021
The Lancers have 12 in the match. Chandler Gorman has five and Christine Graf four now.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/fdAqIBG8l1
Laura Walewska and Chandler Gorman each had five blocks in the match, with the true freshman Walewska added five kills on a .625 percentage (5-0-8).
𝐿𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑎 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑤𝑠𝑘𝑎
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 11, 2021
Remember the name Lancer fans.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/uk6UkZJCRf
It was a tightly-contested match all the way through. The Lancers had to overcome a 21-16 deficit in the first set to pull out the overtime 28-26 win in the opener. CBU turned things around on a 12-5 run sparked by three blocks, including two from Gorman, and two kills from Graf.
Southern Utah won the next two sets, 25-19 and 25-23, but the Lancers forced a fifth set with a comfortable 25-20 win in set four. There were 10 ties and three lead changes in the final game, and the Thunderbirds held match point on three occasions: 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15.
CBU ended the match on a 3-0 run, with a Gorman kill, block assist from Oaks and Gorman giving the Lancers match point for the first time. Oaks made it stand with her 18th kill.
Tesa Oaks' 18th kill is the winner! The Lancers come all the way back to defeat Southern Utah in five sets!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/hakDSxq81l
— California Baptist Volleyball (@CBUvolleyball) September 11, 2021
