California Baptist University
3-4,0-0WAC
University of Nevada
2-6,0-0Mountain West
CBU Rallies for a Five Set Victory over Nevada in Home Opener
9/8/2023 10:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University Lancers volleyball team opened home play with a 3-2 thriller over the University of Nevada on Friday night.
🍽️ Home Cooking 🍽️
— cbuvolleyball (@CBU_volleyball) September 9, 2023
Mia Jerue's ace clinches the 3-2 home opening thriller for CBU!!!!! 🔥🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9FbTMXC9oa
CBU earned the win in front of a boisterous and packed-out Van Dyne crowd of over 700. Senior captain Leah Pease remarked on the crowd's energy throughout the match, "The energy in Van Dyne was absolutely electric tonight. Our competitive fire, mixed with the crowd's enthusiasm, made for an awesome environment. "
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lancers and Wolfpack came out swinging with an action-packed opening set that had to be decided in overtime. Nevada put together three straight scoring rallies to claim the 1-0 lead.
CBU wasted no time responding and took the second set 25-22. In the set, setter Leah Pease reached 1,500 career assists at CBU, moving her into #10 all-time in that category. Pease would rack up 29 assists in the match to add to her impressive total.
"It felt so unreal. It was so special to reach this milestone for all the fans and young girls who look up to CBU Volleyball. I am so proud to have reached it as a Lancer and hope to reach 2,000 by the end of the season", said Pease on reaching 1,500 assists at CBU.
❗️ 𝑀𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓃𝑒 ❗️⁰⁰With that assist, Leah Pease has amassed 1,500 career assists at CBU!! ⁰⁰Keep 'em coming #5!! 🏐💪⁰⁰#LanceUp ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Noc1A7SNrR
— cbuvolleyball (@CBU_volleyball) September 9, 2023
Nevada pushed the Lancers to the brink with another overtime victory in the third set, claiming the frame 27-25.
CBU pulled no punches in the fourth set and dominated the must-win set 25-20. The Lancers closed the period on a 7-3 run, capped off by a powerful swing by Laura Walewska right down the middle to force the fifth set.
The fifth set was a microcosm of the match, as both teams made quick runs at each other and refused to give in. Middle Blocker Logan Manley provided a much-needed spark in the deciding frame with back-to-back aces to secure the 11th and 12th points for the Lancers and gave CBU a commanding 12-8 lead. Nevada battled right back and knotted the game at 14 a piece to head into the third overtime set of the match.
Freshman Nicole Mauser started the overtime with a critical kill off an assist by Pease, and then libero Mia Jerue finished off the Wolkpack with an ace to seal the Lancers home win.
Mia sends the fans home the right way!! 🔥🔥😎#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Y0XnuffIM2
— cbuvolleyball (@CBU_volleyball) September 9, 2023
CBU was pushed to the edge on multiple occasions throughout the evening but refused to give in, reflecting the team's resilience, according to Head Coach Branden Higa. "We've been relentless in practice, and it showed in the resilience that we had to continue to fight and rally. It was not always pretty, but our defense anchored and kept giving us chances to score."
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Four Lancers reached the double-digit mark in kills, including a career performance by Masuer and Catherine Krieger. Mauser, a freshman, led the Lancers in points with 18.5 and kills with 16, adding those numbers to her impressive totals. Mauser added four total blocks and made multiple key plays in the victory.
"Nicole came through in a big way for the team (tonight). She started slow in the first, but she really steadied out and found a nice rhythm throughout the rest of the match. This is the most attempts she has had in her career, and she handled it with poise and maturity," said Coach Higa.
Krieger also had a career night with a team-leading 25 digs. The total was a career-high for Krieger and, paired with her 13 kills, made it her third double-double in four games. Alexa Niko chimed in 12 kills and four blocks on the evening, both of which are new career marks for Niko.
Jerue ended the game on an ace and had six for the match, tying a career-high and the DI era record for aces in a single game. Jerue added 22 digs and eight assists to her impressive performance.
NEXT:
The Lancers will have a quick turnaround as they face Oregon State at home at noon and will travel to UC Riverside for a 6:00 p.m. match on Saturday, September 8th.
