California Baptist University
Sacramento State
VB Preview: CBU Opens Conference Play on the Road in Sacramento and Orem
9/23/2026 9:28:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- A new era officially begins for the California Baptist University volleyball team as they will play their first Big West conference matches this week, as they travel to Sacramento State and Utah Valley.
The Lancers concluded their non-conference schedule this past weekend at the USF Challenge in San Francisco, where they went 1-2 and ultimately concluded non-conference play 3-8. Non-conference action for the Lancers was marred by injuries, with several key players missing multiple games, including Nalanie Neal, Emery DeJong, Bella Breuer, Maddie Brown, and Filippa Botcher.
The Lancers will open conference play against another new Big West member, Sacramento State, on Thursday evening as they make the trip to The Nest. Not only will Sac State be a new conference matchup for the Lancers, but it will also be a new opponent overall, as it will be the first meeting between the two California programs. The Hornets had the second-best record in the conference during non-conference action at 5-6 and were picked fifth in the preseason coaches poll. Sacramento State is currently unbeaten at home after sweeping its home tournament over Nevada, Texas Tech, and Saint Mary's. The Hornets boast one of the best serving teams in the nation thus far this season, ranking 23rd in total aces (90) and 45th in aces per set (1.88 per set).
The next matchup will be a familiar one for the Lancers, and they will travel to Orem, Utah, to face former WAC rival Utah Valley. CBU and UVU have been conference opponents since 2018, when the Lancers made the jump to DI. CBU and UVU each have seven victories in the all-time series, with Utah Valley winning the last three matchups in the series. Orem has been a difficult place historically for the Lancers, with their last win coming in 2019. UVU finished non-conference action 2-10, with its two wins coming at the Kansas City Klassic over Radford and UMKC.
The Lancers will hope to get back the services of Nalanie Neal and Bella Breuer, who missed the last road trip with injury. Neal led the Lancers in kills and kills per set before a foot injury, while Breuer was second on the team in blocks and was the team's leader in hitting percentage before an ankle injury. CBU will still lean on its blocking prowess, which currently ranks in the top 75 in the nation in total blocks and blocks per set.
MATCHUP INFO
CBU at Sacramento State:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 24 @7PM PT
LOCATION: Sacramento, CA- The Nest
WATCH: ESPN+
CBU at Utah Valley:
DATE/TIME: Sept. 26 @12 PM PT
LOCATION: Orem, UT- Lockhart Arena
WATCH: ESPN+
