UC Riverside women’s volleyball team snaps skid against California Baptist – Press Enterprise

RIVERSIDE — Streaks are meant to end.

Coming into Thursday night’s match, the UC Riverside women’s volleyball team had not won a match in the Crosstown Showdown since California Baptist University moved to Division I. The Highlanders also had not won a set in three consecutive matches against the Lancers.

Both of those streaks ended as UC Riverside got their second win of the young season 21-25. 25-15, 25-13, 28-26 at CBU’s Van Dyne Gymnasium.

The match was part of a tournament jointly hosted by the two schools.

“Over the first couple of weeks we weren’t the smartest hitters, but tonight we finally put it together offensively and it really feels good to put an end to this streak,” UC Riverside coach Nikki Cannon said. “Now we finally have the players and culture in place to continue making moves in a very competitive Big West Conference after going from 11th to eighth last year.”

Beatriz Silva’s kill gave UC Riverside a 13-11 lead halfway through the opening set. However, three straight attack errors by the Highlanders and an ace from CBU’s Madison Gilliland gave the Lancers a 15-13 lead. The Highlanders (2-5)  cut that deficit to 19-18 after back-to-back kills from Sophia Ewalefo. However, CBU restored a three-point lead after an ace from Mia Jerue and a kill from Emory DeJong as the Lancers held on to win the set..

Back-to-back aces from Brianna Boyer gave UCR a quick 3-0 lead in the second set. Later in the frame, a combination block from Mia Delahoussaye and Bowyer plus Makena Tong’s service ace helped the Highlanders take their largest lead at 21-12. Trinity Sheridan’s kill ended it.

UC Riverside’s largest lead of the third set was 10 points, following back-to-back aces from Tong as they led after 36 of the set’s 38 points and went up 2-1.

The Highlanders were down 18-11 in the fourth before rallying. Two kills from UCR’s Carissa Wiles and a Lancer attack error cut the deficit to a point at 18-17. Kills from Laura Walewska, Toree Tiffee, and DeJong helped CBU keep a one point lead after UC Riverside tied it at 20.