VOLLEYBALL (M)

4/7/10 - #1 Lancers Handle #2 Royals

By Tim Gooszen

Riverside, CA- Wednesday’s highly anticipated matchup between #1 California Baptist and #2 Hope International lacked a little luster as the Royals were unable to even pull off a set win as they fell 3-0 (30-21, 30-25, 31-29).  The loss ended a seven match winning streak for the Royals.  Freshman Bernard Luna put up a fight with 10 kills and a .412 hitting night.

The Royals opened the first set with an early 3-1 lead on the strength of two kills by Senior Cory Hindemit.  But the Lancers quickly tied the score at 3-3 and then took the lead for good in the opening set on two service aces.  Both teams had just six hitting errors but five more kills and total of four service aces gave the Lancers the edge.

Sophomore Kaimi Guerreiro had a solid first set with five kills on eight attempts and just one error to hit .500.  But as a team the Royals hit just .158 while allowing the Lancers to hit .256.

Set number two was déjà vu of set one as the Royals took the early lead but the Lancers came right back.  A kill by Luna brought the Royals back to a 3-3 tie.  An attack error by the Lancers gave the Royals back the lead for a brief moment.  Two points later the Lancers were back on top and soon built an 11 point lead at 21-10.  But the Royals climbed back within five on strong serving (including an ace) by Senior Alex Figueiredo.

Unfortunately, the margin basically stayed at five the remainder of the set.

Luna was money in the set as he buried six of his eight attempts with no errors.

The third set turned out to be the kind of back and forth set that many thought would take place all night long as the set featured 14 ties and 4 lead changes.  Neither team led by more than four points all set.  Though the Royals forced tie after tie, they did not see the lead until Luna found the hardwood and gave the Royals a 25-24 lead.

With the score tied at 28-28 it was anyone’s match and an attack error by the Lancers gave the Royals a 29-28 lead.  But the Royals would not score again and the Lancers would close out the set and the match at 31-29.

Figueiredo produced a huge set as he pounded out seven kills.  He had ten total on the night.

Junior Danilo Pereira did his part as he passed out 36 assists.

Senior Noah Casaquit had a match high 12 digs.

On Saturday, the Royals will play their final match that will count on their record before the NAIA Nationals when they travel to Oakland to meet up with Holy Names.

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