California Baptist University
Grand Canyon University
CBU Set to Face Grand Canyon in WAC Volleyball Tournament
11/15/2023 3:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball team will open up the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with a tilt against #2 Grand Canyon.
The Lancers enter the tournament as the seventh seed after finishing the season 14-13 overall and 7-9 in conference play. CBU will face Grand Canyon for a second time after the Lopes beat the Lancers on October 16 in three sets. The Lopes finished their season 20-7 and 13-3 in conference play.
The Lancers have made the tournament in the two seasons they have been eligible since making their four-year transition from NCAA DII. In last season's tournament in Edinburg, the Lancers drew eventual champion Stephen F. Austin and were defeated in three sets.
CBU's offense is led by senior outside hitter Michalina Rola, who racked up 346 kills (3.30 kills per set) and 42 aces, the first of which led the team. Rola was fifth in the WAC in kills per set, fourth in total kills, and sixth in points. Rola was also second on the team in service aces with 42, a mark that tied her for third in the WAC and helped the Lancers rank 30th in the nation in that category. Rola's efforts earned her All-WAC Second Team, her first-ever conference honor.
Another key player for the Lancers will be opposite hitter Nicole Mauser. Mauser won Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-WAC Second Team. Mauser was second among freshmen in kills and led all freshmen in total points. Nicole registered 217 kills, 60 blocks, and a .254 hitting percentage. Mauser is the first Lancer to win Freshman of the Year in program history and the only Lancer to win a major award since the program joined the conference in 2018.
Mauser registered a career-high 16 kills in a five-set win over Nevada and produced seven double-digit kill performances. Mauser has competed in 102 of the 105 sets for the Lancers this season and started every match as a true freshman. Nicole has also shown out on the defensive end of the court, ranking third on the team in blocks with 60. Mauser put together her best defensive performance in a four-set win over Southern Utah when she recorded six blocks.
As a team, the Lancers led the conference in service aces with 191, ranking second in aces per set behind Grand Canyon. CBU was 30th in the nation in that department and had two players, Rola and Mia Jerue, who were ranked in the top 60 individually in aces.
MATCH INFORMATION:
Opponent: Grand Canyon
Date and Times: November 16 @ 9 AM PT
Location: Orem, UT
Watch: ESPN+
