Thursday, September 30
Phoenix
6 PM
California Baptist University
at
Grand Canyon
Photo by: Elijah Hickman
VB Preview: Lancers Prepare for Tough WAC Road Trip to Grand Canyon, NM State
9/27/2021 4:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University will look to take on a tough road trip in the Western Athletic Conference, with West Division matches at Grand Canyon and NM State this week.
The Lancers kept their undefeated home record intact with an impressive sweep of Chicago State in the Van Dyne Gym on Saturday (25-19, 25-13, 25-19). It leaves CBU as one of two undefeated teams still left in the West Division, with the Aggies being the other.
These two matches will be crucial when it comes to all three teams' pursuit of a WAC division title. All four teams were picked to finish top four in the West this preseason.
Utah Valley was voted the preseason favorite after winning the 2020 WAC Tournament title. The Wolverines received four first-place votes and a total of 34 points, but NMSU was a close second with three first-place votes and 33 points. Grand Canyon was the No. 3 pick (26) and CBU was the fourth team (20).
Both Grand Canyon and NM State have finished top two in the WAC the last two seasons, with the Aggies winning the regular-season championships and the Lopes taking second each time. NMSU has won two straight WAC regular-season crowns, five in the last six years and six all-time. The Aggies haven't finished outside the top two in a season since 2012.
A LOOK AT THE LANCERS
Tesa Oaks and Christine Graf are a dangerous one-two punch for the Lancers. Oaks is averaging 2.83 kills a set, while Graf has 2.94 kills a set on a .330 hitting percentage. Scherine Dahoue gives CBU a third attacker averaging 2.59 kills or more.
The Lancers run a two-setter offense, with Leah Pease and Hana Okuhara keeping opposing defenses off balance. Pease is averaging 5.25 assists and 2.14 digs a set and also has eight aces. Okuhara is putting up 4.75 assists and 2.53 digs a set and also has four double-doubles on the year.
Junior libero Paige Johnstone has anchored the defense with 138 digs for a 3.83 per set average. The Murrieta native has double-digit digs in seven of 11 matches this year, including a season-high 22 in four sets against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 17.
SHE'S A FRESHMAN
Middle blocker Laura Walewska has earned herself a starting spot over the last three weeks as a true freshman. Overall, she's averaging 1.25 kills a set on a .356 hitting percentage and 0.80 blocks a set. She's been even better over the last four matches, with 1.47 kills a set on a .386 percentage and 0.88 blocks a set. Her breakthrough match came against Southern Utah when she was subbed in after a set and finished with five kills on eight swings and also had five blocks. She had a season-high seven kills against Cal State Fullerton two weeks ago.
GRAND CANYON AT A GLANCE
GCU is 9-2 overall and 1-1 in WAC play after a three-set loss at Dixie State and a five-set win at Utah Valley. The Lopes have been strongest at the service line, as they're averaging two aces a set, which appears to have helped them hold their opponents to a .166 hitting percentage.
McKenzie Wise is GCU's go-to hitter as she averages 3.77 kills a set, while Annabelle Kubinski ranks second on the team with 81 kills on a team-high .386 percentage. Ava Mason (6.19 assists a set) has taken over at the setter position, while reigning WAC Setter of the Year Klaire Mitchell (9.74) has not appeared for the Lopes since Sept. 5.
Senior libero Teagan DeFalco is averaging an astonishing 4.85 digs a set and has a .977 reception percentage. She also leads the attack at the service line with 17 aces for a 0.44 per set average. Mia Goulart (11, 0.31) and Mason (10, 0.32) have eclipsed double-digits, as well. Hannah Eskes is the team's top blocker with 1.04 blocks a set on the year.
NM STATE AT A GLANCE
The Aggies are 11-3 overall this year and 2-0 in conference play. They won their first two WAC matches in four sets against Utah Valley and Dixie State last week. NMSU will also play Seattle U on Thursday before welcoming in CBU.
NM State has been efficient on offense, with a .254 hitting percentage, and averages nearly two more digs a set than its opponents with 15.4 to 13.5.
Shaney Lipscomb and Katie Birtcil are leading the offense, as each member of the duo averages at least 2.87 kills a set on a hitting percentage of .299 or better. Carly Aigner-Swesey (6.83) and Alana Embry (4.14) split time at setter.
Darian Markham averages 4.38 digs a set, while Lauryn Taylor puts up 3.11. Victoria Barrett leads the Aggies' servers with 18 aces (0.49) on the year.
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponents: Grand Canyon and NM State
Date: September 30 & October 2
Time: 6 p.m. & 12 p.m.
Location: Phoenix (GCU Arena) & Las Cruces, N.M. (Pan American Center)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: GCU | NM State
Video: ESPN+: GCU | NM State & WAC Digital Network (international viewers only): GCU | NM State
The Lancers kept their undefeated home record intact with an impressive sweep of Chicago State in the Van Dyne Gym on Saturday (25-19, 25-13, 25-19). It leaves CBU as one of two undefeated teams still left in the West Division, with the Aggies being the other.
These two matches will be crucial when it comes to all three teams' pursuit of a WAC division title. All four teams were picked to finish top four in the West this preseason.
Utah Valley was voted the preseason favorite after winning the 2020 WAC Tournament title. The Wolverines received four first-place votes and a total of 34 points, but NMSU was a close second with three first-place votes and 33 points. Grand Canyon was the No. 3 pick (26) and CBU was the fourth team (20).
Both Grand Canyon and NM State have finished top two in the WAC the last two seasons, with the Aggies winning the regular-season championships and the Lopes taking second each time. NMSU has won two straight WAC regular-season crowns, five in the last six years and six all-time. The Aggies haven't finished outside the top two in a season since 2012.
A LOOK AT THE LANCERS
Tesa Oaks and Christine Graf are a dangerous one-two punch for the Lancers. Oaks is averaging 2.83 kills a set, while Graf has 2.94 kills a set on a .330 hitting percentage. Scherine Dahoue gives CBU a third attacker averaging 2.59 kills or more.
The Lancers run a two-setter offense, with Leah Pease and Hana Okuhara keeping opposing defenses off balance. Pease is averaging 5.25 assists and 2.14 digs a set and also has eight aces. Okuhara is putting up 4.75 assists and 2.53 digs a set and also has four double-doubles on the year.
Junior libero Paige Johnstone has anchored the defense with 138 digs for a 3.83 per set average. The Murrieta native has double-digit digs in seven of 11 matches this year, including a season-high 22 in four sets against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 17.
SHE'S A FRESHMAN
Middle blocker Laura Walewska has earned herself a starting spot over the last three weeks as a true freshman. Overall, she's averaging 1.25 kills a set on a .356 hitting percentage and 0.80 blocks a set. She's been even better over the last four matches, with 1.47 kills a set on a .386 percentage and 0.88 blocks a set. Her breakthrough match came against Southern Utah when she was subbed in after a set and finished with five kills on eight swings and also had five blocks. She had a season-high seven kills against Cal State Fullerton two weeks ago.
GRAND CANYON AT A GLANCE
GCU is 9-2 overall and 1-1 in WAC play after a three-set loss at Dixie State and a five-set win at Utah Valley. The Lopes have been strongest at the service line, as they're averaging two aces a set, which appears to have helped them hold their opponents to a .166 hitting percentage.
McKenzie Wise is GCU's go-to hitter as she averages 3.77 kills a set, while Annabelle Kubinski ranks second on the team with 81 kills on a team-high .386 percentage. Ava Mason (6.19 assists a set) has taken over at the setter position, while reigning WAC Setter of the Year Klaire Mitchell (9.74) has not appeared for the Lopes since Sept. 5.
Senior libero Teagan DeFalco is averaging an astonishing 4.85 digs a set and has a .977 reception percentage. She also leads the attack at the service line with 17 aces for a 0.44 per set average. Mia Goulart (11, 0.31) and Mason (10, 0.32) have eclipsed double-digits, as well. Hannah Eskes is the team's top blocker with 1.04 blocks a set on the year.
NM STATE AT A GLANCE
The Aggies are 11-3 overall this year and 2-0 in conference play. They won their first two WAC matches in four sets against Utah Valley and Dixie State last week. NMSU will also play Seattle U on Thursday before welcoming in CBU.
NM State has been efficient on offense, with a .254 hitting percentage, and averages nearly two more digs a set than its opponents with 15.4 to 13.5.
Shaney Lipscomb and Katie Birtcil are leading the offense, as each member of the duo averages at least 2.87 kills a set on a hitting percentage of .299 or better. Carly Aigner-Swesey (6.83) and Alana Embry (4.14) split time at setter.
Darian Markham averages 4.38 digs a set, while Lauryn Taylor puts up 3.11. Victoria Barrett leads the Aggies' servers with 18 aces (0.49) on the year.
MATCH INFORMATION
Opponents: Grand Canyon and NM State
Date: September 30 & October 2
Time: 6 p.m. & 12 p.m.
Location: Phoenix (GCU Arena) & Las Cruces, N.M. (Pan American Center)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: GCU | NM State
Video: ESPN+: GCU | NM State & WAC Digital Network (international viewers only): GCU | NM State
Players Mentioned
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