California Baptist University
4-16,1-8Big West
UC Riverside
4-16,0-9Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Baptist | 25 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| UC Riverside | 18 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 10 | 2 |
10/23/2026 10:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE, CA--- In part one of the Crosstown Showdown, the California Baptist University women's volleyball team picked up its first Big West Conference win on Friday night as they topped the UCR Highlanders in five sets in part one of the Crosstown Showdown.
Â
The win marks the sixth time in seven matches that the Lancers have won the Crosstown Showdown in the DI Era and is the first for CBU as Big West members.
The Lancers jumped out to an early advantage and would maintain a small lead throughout the majority of the frame. CBU would bring it home with a 5-0 to end the set and take the 25-18 victory and, more importantly, the 1-0 lead. UCR would get one back as they would jump to an early advantage in set two and would not relinquish it. The Lancers trailed 24-22 to force UCR into a timeout, but the Highlanders would get the final point and tie the match up at one set apiece.
The Lancers and Highlanders would go back and forth in the third set as both squads looked to gain the momentum. CBU struck first in the game of runs with a six-point service run from Maddie Brown that would give the Lancers a four-point lead. UCR would score 11 of the next 12 points to take the lead to 19-14. CBU would battle back to tie the match at 21 apiece, but the Highlanders would score four of the final six to take the crucial 2-1 set lead.
Facing elimination, the Lancers had their most dominant showing in the fourth set as they jumped out to the early 7-2 lead to set the tone. The lead would expand to as many as seven points in the frame and would eventually end 25-18 in favor of CBU to set up a winner-take-all set five. UCR struck first in the fifth set, but the Lancers would take a 9-5 lead to force UCR into a timeout. The Highlanders closed the gap to one point at 11-10, but the Lancers would score the final points, including the game-winning block by Daria Chekhoskikh, to walk away with the first victory of the Big West conference slate and the Crosstown Showdown victory.
"Really proud of our fight tonight," remarked Head Coach Trevor Johnson. "We knew how important this one was for our community and university so really proud of our girls and their response tonight."
Eleftheria Baxa led the way with 19 kills on a career-best .581 hitting percentage, followed closely by Emery DeJong with 15 kills. Maddie Brown was the star of the show with a career-best 51 assists and had a team-best 11 digs. Brown would also make her night more special by reaching the 1,000 assist milestone in the victory. Bella Breuer had a season-best 12 kills and would tie for the team lead with two blocks.
Â
NEXT: The Lancers will finish off the Crosstown Showdown on their turf tomorrow at 6 PM in Van Dyne Gym.
