Friday, September 9
Riverside, Calif.
7 PM
California Baptist University
vs
Idaho State
Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com
VB Preview: Lancers Set to Make Home Debut in Week Three
9/5/2022 9:38:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University volleyball will make its home debut this weekend as the Lancers host the CBU Tournament in the Van Dyne Gym.
For consecutive weeks, the Lancers come into week three of the season on a win. CBU defeated Belmont in four sets on Friday (22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16) for its second victory of the year. Senior libero Paige Johnstone was named to the Cougar Challenge All-Tournament Team after she averaged 4.64 digs a set, with 51 overall over three matches.
This weekend, the Lancers will play three matches for the third week in a row as Idaho State, Air Force, and UC Riverside visit Van Dyne. It will be the second-ever meeting CBU has with Idaho State and Air Force, with the Bengals and Falcons winning the first matches between the two back in 1993 and 2018, respectively.
Meanwhile, California Baptist has won its last three matches against UCR to even the all-time series at 3-3. The Highlanders won the first three matches in the series, which played out from 1994-97, but the Lancers have each of the NCAA Division I era meetings since 2018.
CBU first defeated UCR in five sets in the CBU Events Center on Oct. 23, 2018 (25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 21-25, 15-13), and then knocked off the Highlanders in five sets again at the UCR Recreation Center on Nov. 20, 2019. After those five-set nailbiters, the Lancers flipped the script and swept UC Riverside last season in the CBU/UCR Tournament on set scores of 25-13, 25-20, 25-15.
STAT STANDOUTS
Christine Graf continues to lead the offense with a team-high 73 kills (3.48 a set) on a .329 hitting percentage. Three Lancers are now averaging 3.50 kills a set, with Scherine Dahoue at 3.63 and Mia Jerue with 3.50 after she went off for 35 kills last week in Pullman. Senior Leah Pease and true freshman Reese Reed continue to share time at setter. Pease averages 6.14 assists, while Reed is at 4.38.
Johnstone continues to be the standout defensively with 4.24 digs a set and also leads the team with 10 aces (0.48). Middle blockers Laura Walewska (0.89) and Chandler Gorman (0.81) each average more than 0.80 blocks a set, while Grad ranks third on the team with 0.76. Cassidy Dennison continues to be a dual threat as the only player on the team to average more than two digs and kills a set.
A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION
Idaho State brings a 4-2 record into this week and is coming off impressive wins over Gonzaga and CSUN. The Bengals will travel to Boise State on Monday before making the trip to Riverside. Sadie Bluth is the team's go-to hitter with a team-high 3.04 kills a set. Asiah Sophoaga and Emrie Satuala anchor the defense with 4.33 digs and 1.00 blocks a set, respectively.
Air Force is one of 28 undefeated teams still left in NCAA Division I this year at 6-0. The Falcons have been dangerous all over the place and is one of the best blocking teams with their 74 blocks and 2.85 a set, ranking second and 16th in the country. They also average two aces and 12.2 kills a set on a .244 hitting percentage. Balance has been key for them, with six players averaging at least 1.50 kills a set. Joi Harvey has been an absolute menace this season, as she ranks first in Division I with 46 blocks, sixth with 1.77 blocks a set and also has a team-high 69 kills (2.65) on a .398 hitting percentage.
UC Riverside has an identical 2-4 record from CBU and wins over Southern Utah and Bethune-Cookman. Three Highlanders average more than two kills a set, led by Isabella Scarlett (2.74). Tayler Hifo is the primary setter and leads the team with 7.74 assists a set and nine aces. Kenzy Militar has a team-high 3.37 digs and Anya Green and Scarlett each have 15 blocks or more.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Opponents: Idaho State, Air Force, UC Riverside
Dates: Friday-Saturday, September 9-10
Times: September 9: Idaho State @ 7 p.m. | September 10: Air Force @ 1 p.m. & UC Riverside @ 7 p.m.
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Van Dyne Gym)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: Idaho State | Air Force | UC Riverside
Video: ESPN+: Idaho State | Air Force | UC Riverside
For consecutive weeks, the Lancers come into week three of the season on a win. CBU defeated Belmont in four sets on Friday (22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16) for its second victory of the year. Senior libero Paige Johnstone was named to the Cougar Challenge All-Tournament Team after she averaged 4.64 digs a set, with 51 overall over three matches.
This weekend, the Lancers will play three matches for the third week in a row as Idaho State, Air Force, and UC Riverside visit Van Dyne. It will be the second-ever meeting CBU has with Idaho State and Air Force, with the Bengals and Falcons winning the first matches between the two back in 1993 and 2018, respectively.
Meanwhile, California Baptist has won its last three matches against UCR to even the all-time series at 3-3. The Highlanders won the first three matches in the series, which played out from 1994-97, but the Lancers have each of the NCAA Division I era meetings since 2018.
CBU first defeated UCR in five sets in the CBU Events Center on Oct. 23, 2018 (25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 21-25, 15-13), and then knocked off the Highlanders in five sets again at the UCR Recreation Center on Nov. 20, 2019. After those five-set nailbiters, the Lancers flipped the script and swept UC Riverside last season in the CBU/UCR Tournament on set scores of 25-13, 25-20, 25-15.
STAT STANDOUTS
Christine Graf continues to lead the offense with a team-high 73 kills (3.48 a set) on a .329 hitting percentage. Three Lancers are now averaging 3.50 kills a set, with Scherine Dahoue at 3.63 and Mia Jerue with 3.50 after she went off for 35 kills last week in Pullman. Senior Leah Pease and true freshman Reese Reed continue to share time at setter. Pease averages 6.14 assists, while Reed is at 4.38.
Johnstone continues to be the standout defensively with 4.24 digs a set and also leads the team with 10 aces (0.48). Middle blockers Laura Walewska (0.89) and Chandler Gorman (0.81) each average more than 0.80 blocks a set, while Grad ranks third on the team with 0.76. Cassidy Dennison continues to be a dual threat as the only player on the team to average more than two digs and kills a set.
A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION
Idaho State brings a 4-2 record into this week and is coming off impressive wins over Gonzaga and CSUN. The Bengals will travel to Boise State on Monday before making the trip to Riverside. Sadie Bluth is the team's go-to hitter with a team-high 3.04 kills a set. Asiah Sophoaga and Emrie Satuala anchor the defense with 4.33 digs and 1.00 blocks a set, respectively.
Air Force is one of 28 undefeated teams still left in NCAA Division I this year at 6-0. The Falcons have been dangerous all over the place and is one of the best blocking teams with their 74 blocks and 2.85 a set, ranking second and 16th in the country. They also average two aces and 12.2 kills a set on a .244 hitting percentage. Balance has been key for them, with six players averaging at least 1.50 kills a set. Joi Harvey has been an absolute menace this season, as she ranks first in Division I with 46 blocks, sixth with 1.77 blocks a set and also has a team-high 69 kills (2.65) on a .398 hitting percentage.
UC Riverside has an identical 2-4 record from CBU and wins over Southern Utah and Bethune-Cookman. Three Highlanders average more than two kills a set, led by Isabella Scarlett (2.74). Tayler Hifo is the primary setter and leads the team with 7.74 assists a set and nine aces. Kenzy Militar has a team-high 3.37 digs and Anya Green and Scarlett each have 15 blocks or more.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Opponents: Idaho State, Air Force, UC Riverside
Dates: Friday-Saturday, September 9-10
Times: September 9: Idaho State @ 7 p.m. | September 10: Air Force @ 1 p.m. & UC Riverside @ 7 p.m.
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Van Dyne Gym)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast: Idaho State | Air Force | UC Riverside
Video: ESPN+: Idaho State | Air Force | UC Riverside
Players Mentioned
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