California Baptist University
UC San Diego
VB Preview: CBU Set to Host UCSD in the Events Center for First Home Conference Match
9/30/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University volleyball team will host its first Big West Conference matches this week as they host UCSD and UCI in Riverside.
The Lancers finished their first conference games as a new Big West member this past weekend on the road, dropping contests at Sacramento State and Utah Valley. CBU enters the week 3-10 overall.
The opening match of the weekend will be against UC San Diego and will serve as the annual Events Center Match played inside the state-of-the-art Dale E. & Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center on Thursday, October 1. The Lancers are 4-3 all-time in the Events Center Matches dating back to 2018, and it will be their first of the Big West Era. The Tritons enter the matchup after a 1-1 conference opening weekend in which they swept Cal State Fullerton and lost in four sets to Long Beach State. CBU has not played against UCSD since 2013 and is still looking for its first win over the Tritons. The Tritons are fueled by a stellar offense that ranks 50th in the NCAA in kills, and that features opposite hitter Molly McCluskey, who ranks 38th in the country in points and 62nd in kills.
The second matchup of the week will be against the UC Irvine Anteaters on Saturday evening. UCI has the same overall record as the Lancers at 3-10, but did split their opening conference weekend with a loss to Long Beach State and a four-set win over Cal State Fullerton. CBU is 2-2 all-time against the Anteaters, with the last matchup coming in 2024 when UCI swept CBU in Riverside as a part of the WAC/Big West Challenge.
The Lancers will continue to lean on their blocking game to fuel them, as they are 68th in the country in blocks and 87th in blocks per set. CBU will also heavily rely on their freshman outside hitter Nalanie Neal, who they got back this past weekend after missing the previous six matches with a foot injury. The Wytheville, Virginia native led the Lancers with 31 kills on opening weekend, including a 22 Kill performance against Utah Valley on Saturday. The 22 kills were her second most this season and put her in first place in the conference in points per set and third in kills per set.
MATCHUP INFO
CBU vs UCSD:
DATE/TIME: October 1 @7PM PT
LOCATION: Riverside, CA- Dale E. & Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center
WATCH: ESPN+
CBU at UC Irvine:
DATE/TIME: October 3 @6 PM PT
LOCATION: Riverside, CA- Van Dyne Gym
WATCH: ESPN+
