Saturday, September 25
Riverside, Calif.
1 PM
California Baptist University
vs
Chicago State
Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com
VB Preview: Lancers Looking to Keep Undefeated Home Record Going in WAC Opener with Chicago State
9/22/2021 9:55:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University volleyball will make its Western Athletic Conference debut in a home match with Chicago State on Saturday.
The Lancers went 3-0 in the Van Dyne Gym during the CBU/UC Riverside Tournament two weeks ago and will look to get back in the win column after dropping both matches in the Big West/WAC Match-Up last week versus Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine.
CBU will look to get back to its winning ways against a Cougars team on the rise. The Lancers come in with an even 5-5 record, while CSU has the third-best record in the WAC's West Division at 8-4 through non-conference play.
Tesa Oaks and Christine Graf are a dangerous one-two punch for the Lancers. Oaks is averaging 2.85 kills a set, while Graf has 2.91 kills a set on a .316 hitting percentage. Scherine Dahoue gives CBU a third attacker averaging 2.71 kills or more.
The Lancers run a two-setter offense, with Leah Pease and Hana Okuhara keeping opposing defenses off balance. Pease is averaging 5.18 assists and 2.18 digs a set and also has eight aces. Okuhara is putting up 4.79 assists and 2.58 digs a set and also has four double-doubles on the year, including the last three matches.
SERIES NOTES
The Lancers have won all four matches versus Chicago State since CBU joined the WAC in 2018. The two have not met since 2019 after their 2020 matches were canceled.
Back in 2018, the Lancers swept CSU in Chicago (25-13, 25-20, 25-23) and had a four-set victory in Riverside (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-14). The next year, CBU overcame a first-set loss to defeat the Cougars in four sets (21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 26-24) in Chicago and then swept CSU (25-10, 25-14, 25-14) in the Van Dyne Gym the last time out on Nov. 2, 2019.
HOME SWEET HOME
CBU is off to a 3-0 start on its home floor this season. The Lancers won all three matches in the CBU/UCR Tournament against New Orleans, Southern Utah and UC Riverside on Sept. 10-11. The success was due in large part to the team's defense, as the Lancers out dug (12.73 – 11.18) and out-blocked (2.59 – 1.82) their opponents. CBU also averaged 2.64 aces a set, while giving up just 1.73 in Van Dyne.
WAC PRESEASON POLL
CBU was picked to finish fourth in the conference's Preseason West Division Poll coming into the year. The Lancers received 30 points, while reigning WAC Tournament champion Utah Valley was the preseason favorite with 34 points and four of seven first-place votes. NM State, the seven-time reigning regular-season champion, was picked to finish runner-up in the division with 33 points and three first-place votes. Grand Canyon was slotted third (26). Dixie State was picked fifth (16), Chicago State sixth (10) and Seattle U seventh (6).
CHICAGO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Cougars have a new head coach and they're off to a strong start in the Tony Tifonov era. Trifonov previously coached at Florida A&M for 21 seasons (1997-2018) and was most recently was the head volleyball coach at Seward County Community College (Liberal, KS) where he posted a 63-10 overall record in two seasons (2018-19).
Chicago State owns impressive wins over Bellarmine, IUPUI, North Dakota State and Indiana. CSU's strengths have been its offense, as it averages 13.8 kills on a .232 percentage and back-row defense with 14.9 digs a set.
Sophomore Yanlis Feliz is the go-to option for the Cougars, as the outside hitter averaged 4.79 kills a set, which is the seventh most in all of NCAA Division I, on a .251 hitting percentage. She also has 14 aces and averages 2.95 digs and 0.49 blocks a set on the year.
Berenice Almeyda and Nailah Jones also average 2.42 kills and 2.45 kills a set. Almeyda does so on a team-high .365 percentage. Jaclyn Inclan has been setting her up primarily, with 9.61 assists a set and 13 aces. Andrea Calderon averages 3.81 digs a set. Mesalina Severino is the leading blocker with 43 overall and one a set.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Opponents: Chicago State
Date: September 25
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Van Dyne Gym)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Video: ESPN+ and WAC Digital Network (international viewers only)
The Lancers went 3-0 in the Van Dyne Gym during the CBU/UC Riverside Tournament two weeks ago and will look to get back in the win column after dropping both matches in the Big West/WAC Match-Up last week versus Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine.
CBU will look to get back to its winning ways against a Cougars team on the rise. The Lancers come in with an even 5-5 record, while CSU has the third-best record in the WAC's West Division at 8-4 through non-conference play.
Tesa Oaks and Christine Graf are a dangerous one-two punch for the Lancers. Oaks is averaging 2.85 kills a set, while Graf has 2.91 kills a set on a .316 hitting percentage. Scherine Dahoue gives CBU a third attacker averaging 2.71 kills or more.
The Lancers run a two-setter offense, with Leah Pease and Hana Okuhara keeping opposing defenses off balance. Pease is averaging 5.18 assists and 2.18 digs a set and also has eight aces. Okuhara is putting up 4.79 assists and 2.58 digs a set and also has four double-doubles on the year, including the last three matches.
SERIES NOTES
The Lancers have won all four matches versus Chicago State since CBU joined the WAC in 2018. The two have not met since 2019 after their 2020 matches were canceled.
Back in 2018, the Lancers swept CSU in Chicago (25-13, 25-20, 25-23) and had a four-set victory in Riverside (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-14). The next year, CBU overcame a first-set loss to defeat the Cougars in four sets (21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 26-24) in Chicago and then swept CSU (25-10, 25-14, 25-14) in the Van Dyne Gym the last time out on Nov. 2, 2019.
HOME SWEET HOME
CBU is off to a 3-0 start on its home floor this season. The Lancers won all three matches in the CBU/UCR Tournament against New Orleans, Southern Utah and UC Riverside on Sept. 10-11. The success was due in large part to the team's defense, as the Lancers out dug (12.73 – 11.18) and out-blocked (2.59 – 1.82) their opponents. CBU also averaged 2.64 aces a set, while giving up just 1.73 in Van Dyne.
WAC PRESEASON POLL
CBU was picked to finish fourth in the conference's Preseason West Division Poll coming into the year. The Lancers received 30 points, while reigning WAC Tournament champion Utah Valley was the preseason favorite with 34 points and four of seven first-place votes. NM State, the seven-time reigning regular-season champion, was picked to finish runner-up in the division with 33 points and three first-place votes. Grand Canyon was slotted third (26). Dixie State was picked fifth (16), Chicago State sixth (10) and Seattle U seventh (6).
CHICAGO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Cougars have a new head coach and they're off to a strong start in the Tony Tifonov era. Trifonov previously coached at Florida A&M for 21 seasons (1997-2018) and was most recently was the head volleyball coach at Seward County Community College (Liberal, KS) where he posted a 63-10 overall record in two seasons (2018-19).
Chicago State owns impressive wins over Bellarmine, IUPUI, North Dakota State and Indiana. CSU's strengths have been its offense, as it averages 13.8 kills on a .232 percentage and back-row defense with 14.9 digs a set.
Sophomore Yanlis Feliz is the go-to option for the Cougars, as the outside hitter averaged 4.79 kills a set, which is the seventh most in all of NCAA Division I, on a .251 hitting percentage. She also has 14 aces and averages 2.95 digs and 0.49 blocks a set on the year.
Berenice Almeyda and Nailah Jones also average 2.42 kills and 2.45 kills a set. Almeyda does so on a team-high .365 percentage. Jaclyn Inclan has been setting her up primarily, with 9.61 assists a set and 13 aces. Andrea Calderon averages 3.81 digs a set. Mesalina Severino is the leading blocker with 43 overall and one a set.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Opponents: Chicago State
Date: September 25
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Van Dyne Gym)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Video: ESPN+ and WAC Digital Network (international viewers only)
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballCBU Volleyball Hype Video 2025
Monday, September 22
CBU Volleyball Hype Video 2024
Tuesday, September 17
CBU Volleyball vs Tarleton St. (Cinematic Highlight)
Tuesday, October 17
CBU Volleyball Hype Video 2023
Monday, September 18
