California Baptist University
5-21,5-9WAC
Utah Tech
15-9,9-5WAC
CBU Clinches Spot in WAC Tournament on Senior Day
11/9/2024 10:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball team celebrated its seven seniors on Saturday afternoon as they bested Utah Tech in four sets in Riverside.
The 3-1 over the Trailblazers clinched a spot in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament for CBU and brought their record to 5-9 in conference play. The Lancers continue to fair well at home during conference play, now posting a 4-2 record in the confines of Van Dyne Gym during the WAC schedule.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
CBU started the match strong, holding a 10-6 lead out of the gate on the visiting Trailblazers. Utah Tech would fight back and bring the score within one, but that would be the closest they would get on the scoreboard as the Lancers throttled ahead for the 25-21 victory. The second set played out very similar to the opening frame, with CBU snatching momentum early. The Lancers would lead by as many as seven in the period and never trailed. CBU's excellent offensive execution would culminate in a Nicole Mauser kill that would end the set at 25-21 and give CBU a commanding 2-0 lead.
The Trailblazers would fight desperately to avoid a sweep in Riversdcie in the third set as they came out sharp and built an early four-point advantage. CBU would rally back and take a brief one-point lead off a Mia Jerue kill to force a Utah Tech timeout. The Trailblazers would execute a critical 6-1 run to get the match to set point at 24-19 before Caisy Fried would end the frame at 25-20 to avoid the sweep.
The Lancers looked to halt the Utah Tech momentum early in set four as they came out and controlled the narrative with a 7-4 start. UTU would answer right back with a 5-0 run to force Branden Higa to huddle up his squad and look for answers. Higa found answers in a major way with his squad going on an 8-0 Jerue service run that included three aces from the senior outside hitter. The run was short-lived as the Trailblazers fought back with an 8-2 run of its own to tie the set at 18. CBU and UTU would exchange points over the next few rallies and find themselves knotted at 23. The Lancers avoided the fifth set with a kill from Kali Wolf and a Utah Tech error to take the match 3-1.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
The victory was an all-around effort from the Lancers, as four different hitters registered at least nine kills. Mauser would lead the team with 14 kills, while Jerue and Gilliland would both surpass the double-digit threshold. Jerue made it a double-double night with 14 digs and chipped in a game-high four aces.
Reese Reed surpassed her career-high in assists in the win, registering 29 in the four-set victory, besting her previous best of 28 that she had done twice previously.
NEXT: The Lancers will have a short turnaround as they face Grand Canyon at home on Monday, November 11 at 7 PM.
