California Baptist University
Northern Arizona University
VB Preview: CBU Finalizes Non-Conference Schedule this Weekend at USF Invite
9/16/2026 7:32:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball team will embark on its final trip of the non-conference schedule as they head to the Bay to compete in the USF Invitational.
The University of San Francisco will host the USF Invitational and will feature matchups for the Lancers against Northern Arizona, Texas Southern, and San Francisco. CBU is 2-5 entering the tournament and continues to battle injuries in the early part of the season.
The opening matchup will be on Thursday evening as they face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at 6 PM. The Lumberjacks are sitting at 5-4 and are coming off a 2-1 weekend at their own Lumberjack Classic. NAU was picked second in the Big Sky preseason poll with four first-place votes. The Lumberjacks have been a terrific defensive team this season, ranking 18th in digs, 41st in blocks, and 28th in digs per set. NAU will be a brand-new matchup for the Lancers and the third game against a Big Sky opponent this season, following games against Montana and Idaho.
The second matchup of the weekend will be against Texas Southern on Friday afternoon. The Tigers are 1-8 in non-conference action thus far and are coming off their lone win of the season at the Southeastern Showdown with a sweep of Charlotte. The Tigers have been led offensively by Lauren Battle and Ava Houston, who have combined for over 110 kills this season. Texas Southern will be another first-time matchup for the Lancers and the first time they have faced an SWAC opponent since 2019, when they faced Jackson State.
The final matchup of the tournament and non-conference schedule will be against the tournament host, USF. The Dons are 5-5 this season thus far and have faced two other Big West opponents, including a sweep of Cal State Bakersfield and a four-set loss to CSUN. USF was picked seventh in the preseason poll in a loaded WCC. The Dons and Lancers have not faced off since 2018, when they played at a neutral venue at Fresno State. The USF offense has been their fuel, as they currently rank in the top 50 in the NCAA in kills with over 450 and in the top 70 in assists with 411.
The Lancers were without the services of their leading attacker, Nalanie Neal, this past tournament, as she continues to deal with a foot injury, but did get Emery DeJong, Maddie Brown, and Filippa Botcher back after missing some time. CBU has been one of the strongest blocking teams in the Big West and the NCAA this season, ranking 34th in total blocks and 42nd in blocks per set (2.55). The Lancers have gotten tremendous production from their middles and outsides on the blocks, led by Daria Chekhovskikh and Bella Breuer. Chekhovskikh leads the team in total blocks (32) and blocks per set (1.28) while Breuer ranks second in those categories at 27 and 0.82, respectively.
MATCHUP INFO: USF Invitational
CBU vs Northern Arizona:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 17 @6 PM PT
LOCATION: San Francisco, CA- War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
CBU vs Texas Southern:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 18 @2:30 PM PT
LOCATION: San Francisco, CA- War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
CBU at San Francisco:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 19 @12 PM PT
LOCATION: San Francisco, CA- War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
WATCH: ESPN+
