California Baptist University
0-2,0-0WAC
Belmont University
2-0,0-0MVC
The Lancer Fall to Belmont in Five Sets in Nashville
8/31/2024 8:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NASHVILLE--- The California Baptist University women's volleyball team came up short in its second match of the Lipscomb/Belmont Invitational, falling in a five-set thriller to host Belmont. The loss drops the Lancers to an 0-2 start, while the Bruins remain unbeaten in their hosted tournament after sweeping Butler earlier in the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
CBU would come out hot in the opening set, cemented by an 8-2 run that they would ride to the 25-22 victory. Belmont turned the tables to being the second set, opening up an 11-4 lead to force a Branden Higa timeout. The Lancers would compose themselves and rattle off ten of the next 12 points to force Belmont to use both timeouts and take a four-point lead. The Bruins would nearly force extra points, but a Kali Wolf swing would end the set and give CBU a commanding 2-0 lead.
Belmont would start the third set very similar to the second by taking an early lead, but this time, they would not relinquish and eventually closed out the Lancers 25-18 to keep the match alive. The Bruins would dominate the fourth set as well to force the match into extra sets.
In the critical final set, the Bruins would strike first, scoring the first three points to snag early momentum. CBU would respond and gain the advantage at 5-4 off of an Avery Barber ace. Belmont would battle back and take a daunting 14-11 lead to put CBU on the brink of elimination. The Lancers showed no quit and would force extra points with a 3-0 run to tie the match at 14. Belmont would break the back-and-forth battle with the final two points to complete the comeback and defend their home court.
STATISTICAL NOTABLES:
Eliana Posada once again led the Lancers in kills with a career-high 15 on 35 attacks. Posada also tied for the team lead in blocks with three and chipped in two digs as well. Posada was joined by Wolf and Nicole Mauser in the double-digit kill department as they both registered 14. Wolf was the team leader in points with 18 total, coming up with two blocks and three aces.
Mia Jerue did a little bit of everything for the Lancers, with seven kills, ten digs, three aces, and an assist. Reese Reed and Avery Barber combined for 45 assists in the match, with Barber leading the way with 24 and nine digs to boot.
NEXT: The Lancers will wrap up the Lipscomb Invitational on Sunday at 10 AM PT against #17 Arizona State.
