California Baptist University
14-12,7-8WAC
UT Arlington
20-8,9-6WAC
The Lancers Fall to the Mavericks in Back-And-Forth Battle
11/9/2023 10:21:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball team took on the UT Arlington Mavericks in their penultimate conference match of the season. The game was a seesaw affair that saw the Mavericks hold on for the five-set victory.
The loss drops the Lancers to 7-8 in conference play and pushes the Mavericks to 9-6. CBU, although clinching a spot in the conference tournament last week, is now in a tie for fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with one remaining game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lancers weathered an early storm by the Mavericks, with UTA rattling off the first five points and the Lancers able to rally back on an 11-3 run of their own. Three Lancers recorded four kills in the opening set as the offensive came quickly and often. CBU would take the opening set 25-18 to take the 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks flipped the script on the Lancers in the second set with efficient offense and gritty defense. The Mavericks rolled out a 7-1 run on CBU to take control of the second period. The Mavericks would finish off the Lancers 25-17 to tie the match at one set apiece.
The third set became a thriller with 12 lead changes and eight ties occurring over the set's duration. The set would eventually go into overtime after a kill by Michalina Rola set up the extra points. The Mavericks held on in the period after registering the only two points of overtime to take the set 26-24.
The Lancers came out in full force in the fourth set and led for the entirety of the frame. CBU led by as many as eight before taking the set 25-18 and forcing the match to go the distance.
CBU led early in the fifth set and forced a Maverick timeout after taking the advantage 10-6. Following the timeout, the Mavericks would proceed to go on a 9-2 run to close the match and take the set 15-12.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Eliana Posada turned in a career match with a season and career-high 14 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Posada chipped in a pair of blocks and digs, giving CBU a much-needed boost. Rola was her usual self with a team-high 15 kills and ten digs, giving herself another double-double. Rola also registered a career-high five aces in the match, which led a 13-ace night for the Lancers. The 13 aces tied for the third most of the DI era for CBU, continuing a solid season for the Lancers at the service line.
Reese Reed also turned in a double-double performance as the primary setter with 27 assists and ten digs, both of which led the team. Reed also added three aces in the contest.
NEXT: The Lancers will remain in Riverside and take on the defending WAC Champion Jacks of SFA on Saturday, November 11 at 1 P.M.
