California Baptist University
5-11,1-3WAC
Southern Utah University
2-12,1-2WAC
CBU's Comeback Bid Falls Short to Southern Utah in Cedar City
10/4/2025 2:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CEDAR CITY, UT--- The California Baptist University volleyball team nearly pulled off the reverse sweep on Saturday afternoon against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, but would ultimately come up short in five sets in the road conference contest.
The loss drops CBU to 1-3 in Western Athletic Conference play, while SUU will improve to 1-1.
The opening set was all Thunderbirds, and they got off to a hot start behind a strong service game that saw eight aces in total. Southern Utah's lead ballooned to double-digits early on, and they would end the frame on a 5-1 run to secure the 25-13 victory.
The second set was a much more competitive showing from the Lancers, as the two teams went back and forth against each other. Neither team led by more than three points in the frame as it quickly became a set of runs. The Thunderbirds would execute a late 3-0 run after the Lancers had tied the set at 21 to get them to set point at 24-21. CBU would put the pressure back on the home team with back-to-back points, but an untimely Lancers service error would give the set win to Southern Utah 25-23.
The third set was likewise very competitive; however, this time, the Lancers controlled the momentum from beginning to end. The Thunderbirds hung around with CBU for the entirety of the frame, but outside of an early 6-5 lead, never led in the period. The Lancers' blocking game was on full display in the set, with five blocks in the period to fuel its scoring. SUU tied the match at 23, but the Lancers would extend the match with two critical kills from Jordyn Waite-Ward and Lucy Ryan to secure the 25-23 set victory.
CBU put more pressure on the Thunderbirds, as they dominated the fourth set behind efficient hitting and clean volleyball. The Lancers led by as many as ten points and would win the frame 25-15 to set up the decisive fifth set. The fifth set would go the way of the home team after they executed a 3-0 run to end the match and avoid the reverse sweep.
Emery Dejong, who came off the bench, had one of her best games of the season with 18 kills on an efficient hitting percentage of .375. Eliana Posada, who also came off the bench, would chip in 14 kills. Filippa Botcher, after missing the previous seven matches due to injury, would contribute eight kills in the middle for CBU.
NEXT: The Lancers return home on Saturday, October 11, to face UT Arlington at 1 PM.
