California Baptist University
4-20,4-8WAC
UT Arlington
21-2,11-0WAC
CBU Tests Unbeaten UT Arlington in Conference Play on Saturday Afternoon
11/2/2024 12:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ARLINGTON--- California Baptist University volleyball had a tall task on Saturday afternoon as they visited the 20-2 UT Arlington Mavericks at the College Park Center. The Lancers put up a strong fight against the Mavericks but would ultimately fall in a four-set battle.
UTA remains unbeaten in Western Athletic Conference play at 11-0 and at the top of the standings. CBU falls to 4-8 in conference play and will only have one more road conference match in the 2024 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In the opening set, the Lancers and Mavericks remained fairly even over the top half of the frame, but a 7-3 UTA run would put CBU behind the 8-ball. The Mavericks would ride the momentum out and take the first set by a score of 25-17.
Madison Gilliland and the Lancers showed out in a big way in the second set at the College Park Center. Gilliland, the Coppell, Texas native, had three kills, two solo blocks, and three total blocks in the frame and was the catalyst for the Lancers. CBU executed a 7-1 run in the middle of the set to gain the advantage and force Arlington to play catch-up. The Mavericks got the lead down to four at one point, but CBU would not let the momentum slip away and won the set off a Kali Wolf and Gilliland block by a score of 25-18. The win was the first Arlington set defeat at home since October 3
The Mavericks would jump out all over CBU in the third set, with a 6-1 start to force a Branden Higa timeout. The Lancers would respond out of the timeout with a 6-0 to take the lead and force the home squad to burn a timeout. UTA would go on a 9-1 run soon after and would eventually ride out the set to a 25-18 victory and 2-1 lead over CBU.
In the fourth set, the Mavericks and Lancers competed in a seesaw affair early in the frame, with neither team gaining a lead of more than two over the first 18 points. UTA would go on an 8-2 run to put the Lancers on their heels before CBU would make their move. A Nicole Mauser kill would cut the Maverick lead to one at 18-17, but that would be the closest it got for the remainder of the set as the Mavericks would flex its offensive firepower and win the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Avery Barber had an all-around performance for CBU, recording 16 assists, nine digs, four aces, and two kills at setter. Offensively, the Lancers spread the ball around effectively, with five Lancers posting at least seven kills in the match. Mia Jerue led the way with nine, while Gilliland continued her strong play with eight on a .583 hitting percentage.
Kali Wolf also reached a career milestone in the victory, recording her 1,000th career dig in the match and had eight for the game.
‼️𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢➡️𝟏𝐊‼️
— cbuvolleyball (@CBU_volleyball) November 2, 2024
Congratulations to Kali Wolf on recording her 1,000th career dig this afternoon!! 👏👏#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OLC40o3TU6
NEXT: CBU will embark on its final road trip of the season as they face Seattle U on Thursday, November 7, at the Redhawk Center.
