California Baptist University
7-4,0-0WAC
California State University at Fullerton
1-8,0-0Big West
Lancers Conquer the Titans to Wrap up Non-Conference Play
9/16/2023 9:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FULLERTON--- The California Baptist University volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a four-set win over Cal State Fullerton on the road.
The Lancers took care of business and extended its winning streak to five and its overall record to 7-4. The record marks the program's best start of the DI era since 2018 and the longest winning streak since 2021.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lancers came out with purpose, quickly jumping out to a 16-10 advantage over the Titans. CSUF closed the gap with a late 4-0 run to bring the score to 24-23 and put the pressure back on CBU. The Lancers responded via Michalina Rola, who ended the set with a swing from the right side off a pass from Leah Pease. In the set, Rola and Catherine Krieger had three kills apiece to lead the Lancer offense.
The Titans would not go away quietly and blitzed the Lancers early on in set two. CSUF held the lead as large as eight in the set before CBU rallied and tightened the game to a two-point Titan advantage. The Titans finished the set with a pair of kills by Aubrey Beaver to even the match.
The final two sets were dominated by CBU, outscoring CSUF 50-29 combined. In the third set, CBU set the tone for the victory with a one-minute rally that opposite hitter Alexa Niko finished with a kill shot to the back row of the Titans. The Lancers never allowed the Titans to get close in either set and cruised to the four-set victory on the road.
WHAT. A. RALLY!! ❗️😱🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Ur7UsxD4sZ
— cbuvolleyball (@CBU_volleyball) September 17, 2023
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Reese Reed led the charge, tying a career-high in assists with 26, and added 14 digs to make it a double-double for the sophomore setter.
"I was really focused on two things- First, I wanted to put my hitters in the best opportunities possible and second, I simply wanted to dig more balls. I put a lot of attention on the opposing team's tendencies and trying to read their hitters as much as possible," said Reed about her career performance.
Rola and Krieger combined for 29 kills, and both posted efficient hitting marks. Niko gave CBU a boost off the pine with eight kills and four block assists to continue her strong 2023 campaign. Pease made it nine 20-assists matches on the year with 20 to pair with nine digs and a pair of aces.
NEXT: The Lancers will open conference play with a Utah road trip to face Utah Tech and Southern Utah on Thursday, September 21, and Saturday, September 23.
