California Baptist University
Tarleton State University
VB Preview: CBU Opens Up Conference Play in the Events Center Against Tarleton
9/23/2025 10:26:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball squad will open up conference play this week as they host Tarleton in the Fowler Events Center and Abilene Christian in Van Dyne Gym.
The Lancers had an up and down non-conference slate, posting a 4-8 record overall. CBU posted wins over Idaho State, Portland State, Cal State Fullerton, and New Mexico during various non-conference tournaments in the early going of the season.
Trevor Johnson, in his first year at the helm, dealt with a variety of early-season injuries, including missing star right side hitter Eliana Posada for the first seven matches of the season and starting middle blocker Filippa Botcher for the past four matches. Johnson's squad was picked to finish fourth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll and will look to open up conference play 2-0 against a pair of Texan squads in Tarleton and Abilene Christian.
The conference opener will be a special one as it will serve as the annual Fowler Events Center volleyball match on Thursday evening. Last season at the events center match, the Lancers made history with a program and 2024 DI record 21 aces in a three-set victory over Utah Valley. Mia Jerue and Gianna Perez tied the NCAA-era single-game program record with seven aces apiece in the match as CBU handled Utah Valley in straight sets.
This time around, it will be the Tarleton Texans who will compete in the Events Center dual against the Lancers, with first serve set for 5 PM. The Texans went 6-6 in non-conference action, posting wins over Arkansas Pine Bluff, Louisiana Tech, and Sam Houston, among others. Tarleton was picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll and is being led by first-year head coach Jazmyne Johnson. CBU split the season series with Tarleton last year, with both teams winning on the opposing team's home floor. Overall, CBU has a 5-3 record against the squad from Stephenville as both teams look to begin their conference slate 1-0.
The second match of the week will be at the Lancers' usual home of Van Dyne Gym against the Wildcats of Abilene Christian. ACU competed in 15 matches during non-conference action and posted a record of 6-9 after being picked fifth in the WAC preseason poll. The Wildcats will make a pitstop in Salt Lake City on Thursday to face Utah Valley before matching up with the Lancers on Saturday. CBU also split the season series with ACU in 2024, with both teams holding serve at home. The overall series is tied at three apiece, with Saturday's match serving as a rubber match in the series history.
The Lancers have utilized their depth early on in the season, with every healthy player making contributions in non-conference action. Posada, in the five matches she has played, has led the team in kills per set at 3.71 and in hitting percentage at .397, while Emery DeJong has been a steady force on the outside with a team-leading 153 kills. Maddie Brown has run the offense for most of the non-conference action at setter, posting 350 assists, 107 digs, and 12 aces.
MATCHUP INFO:
CBU vs Tarleton:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 25 @5PM
LOCATION: Riverside, CA- Fowler Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
CBU vs Abilene Christian:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 27 @1PM
LOCATION: Riverside, CA- Van Dyne Gym
WATCH: ESPN+
GET TICKETS HERE
