WVB Preview: CBU Heads to Corvallis to Compete in the ASICS Invitational

Thursday, September 3

Corvallis, OR

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

Oregon State University

Photo by: Ryley Collom

WVB Preview: CBU Heads to Corvallis to Compete in the ASICS Invitational

9/2/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

By: Ryley Collom, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE, CA--- The California Baptist University volleyball team will embark on its second trip of the non-conference schedule this week as they head to Corvallis, Oregon, to compete in the ASICS Invitational hosted by Oregon State.

The Lancers finalized their opening weekend road trip 1-1 in New Mexico, defeating the Lobos in four sets and losing in straight sets to New Mexico State in Las Cruces.

The first match of the tournament will be against the host Oregon State Beavers on Thursday evening. The Beavers opened their season in Utah this past weekend, going 1-1 at the UVU/Utah tournament. Oregon State lost in straight sets to Utah Tech and the University of Utah and defeated fellow Big West rival Utah Valley in four sets in Orem. Oregon State was picked second in the PAC-12 preseason coaches' poll and will be just the third PAC-12 opponent the Lancers have competed against in the DI era.

The second matchup will be a very familiar one for the Lancers as they will face Seattle U on Friday afternoon. The Redhawks and Lancers were WAC opponents for seven seasons, and this will mark their 11th all-time meeting and the first at a neutral venue. CBU holds a commanding 8-2 series lead over the Redhawks and swept Seattle U in five of the last six meetings. Seattle U was picked to finish last in the preseason poll and has started the season 2-1. The Redhawks bested Chicago State and North Dakota at home while falling to in-state rival Eastern Washington at the Redhawk Center this past weekend.

The final matchup of the weekend will be a morning tilt against Montana on Saturday. The Grizzlies are 1-1 to begin the season, just like the Lancers, sweeping Central Michigan and falling to Washington State at the WSU Tournament in Pullman, WA. CBU will face the Grizzlies for the second time in program history, after sweeping them in 2021 in Brookings, South Dakota.

The Lancers will be led by standout freshman hitter Nalanie Neal, who led CBU with 27 kills on the opening weekend in seven sets of action. Neal was awarded the Big West Rookie of the Week honors, and her 17 kills against New Mexico were the most in a freshman debut in program history. CBU continues to deal with the early-season injury bug, with three of its main returners from a season ago missing the opening season road trip in Emery Dejong, Filippa Botcher, and Maddie Brown. CBU hopes to bring DeJong and Botcher back soon to bolster its solid core.