CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah volleyball (2-18, 1-8 WAC) will be on the road again, this time facing California Baptist (6-15, 2-7 WAC) on Thursday night. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT. The matchup marks the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Thunderbirds won the first matchup and will aim to secure the season sweep.
Last Time Out
Kaitlyn Hoelker led the Thunderbirds with nine kills, while Asya Akbulut directed the Southern Utah offense with 11 assists. On the defensive end, Aleeya Jones paced the team with eight digs. Addyson McArthur, Amanda Mendoza, and Swayzee Mason each added a service ace for the Thunderbirds.
What To Watch
The Thunderbirds will look to build on the success that led them to victory the last time the two teams met. Southern Utah dominated from the service line, posting an 11-4 advantage in aces, their highest total of the season. The Thunderbirds also controlled the decisive fifth set, hitting an impressive .308 while holding the Lancers to a stifling .000.
Thunderbirds Standouts
Scouting the Lancers
California Baptist enters the matchup with a 6-15 record and a 2-7 mark in WAC play. The Lancers are hitting .221 on the season, averaging 12.27 kills and 11.23 assists per set. From the service line, they've recorded 153 aces while averaging nearly two per set. Defensively, California Baptist has posted 983 digs and 182.5 total blocks, including 45 solo stops. Despite their offensive efficiency, the Lancers have committed 190 service errors and 116 reception errors this year, areas that Southern Utah will look to exploit.
Head Coach Danielle Jensen
"Cal Baptist is a quality opponent that doesn't give away many points. For us, it's about matching that focus with our own energy and confidence from the first serve. We'll need to keep our intensity high to put ourselves in position to win."
Game Information
Opponent: California Baptist Lancers
Date/Time: Thursday, November 6 - 7:00 PM MT
Location: Van Dyne Gym - Riverside, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Here
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