SEATTLE - Seattle U volleyball snatched a thrilling five set victory over California Baptist 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 25-11, 18-25, 15-13) at the Redhawk Center on Thursday night to secure its first win over the Lancers since 2019.
Two Redhawks posted double-double performances to snap CBU's five match winning streak over the Redhawks. Junior Merima Smajlovic was an absolute force, locking in 16 kills to go along with three aces and 11 digs. Senior Arianna Bilby nabbed her eighth double-double this year with 13 kills and a season high 19 digs. She paced the team with 5.0 blocks, while adding two aces and three assists.
Freshmen setters Grace Jones and Anae Asuncion combined for 46 of Seattle U's 51 assists, with Jones grabbing a new season best of 24. Asuncion was one shy of her season best of 23, posting 22 on the night. Jones also posted three of Seattle U's ten aces seen on the evening.
Senior Katlyn Sipes and junior Marley Hardgrave were the backbone of the Redhawk defense. Hardgrave stood tall at the net, racking up five blocks, while Sipes covered the gaps with 22 digs.
Entering Thursday night, the Redhawks hadn't grabbed a set off the Lancers in five matches. California Baptist struck first to extend its set winning streak over Seattle U to after opening the night with a 25-21 set one win. The Redhawks collected 14 kills to open the rematch, hitting .205 on 39 attacks and six errors, but CBU hit a .257 on 35 attacks for ten kills and one error.
Seattle U smothered the Lancers' offense in the second set as CBU hit .000 on 30 attacks for eight kills and eight errors. In turn, the Redhawks recorded 12 kills hitting .226 on 31 attacks and five errors. In a back and forth trade early in the second set, the Redhawks rattled off two separate 4-0 scoring runs to go up 17-13. CBU pulled within two behind a kill to make it 20-18 in favor of the Redhawks, but Seattle U iced the set with a 5-0 run.
The Redhawks did not hold back in the third set and led by as many as 16. Jones kick started the bountiful scoring effort from the service line, breaking the 2-2 tie with an ace. She wouldn't yield the serve for another seven points before CBU was finally able to cut off the 8-0 run with a kill.
In response, Smajlovic decided to lead her own run from the service line, racking up two of her three aces back-to-back to get the Redhawks up 15-4. When CBU broke through, freshman Ivy Brown told her own tale with her serve, grabbing an ace and guiding the Redhawks to a 21-5 lead.
The Lancers chipped at the deficit but a kill from Bilby and a block from both Bilby and Hardgrave put Seattle U up 23-9. Another kill from Bilby got the Redhawks to set point before an error from CBU locked up the set 25-11 for the Redhawks.
Seattle U didn't record a single error in the third set, hitting at a .333 clip for eight kills. They racked up five aces and four blocks while taking advantage of ten CBU errors.
The Lancers forced a fifth set after grabbing 14 kills on 32 attacks, hitting .313 in the fourth set. The Redhawks picked up ten kills and six errors.
At the start of the final set, neither team could wrestle away a padded lead as the two traded scores until the Lancers led 7-6. Bilby jump started a 5-0 run for the Redhawks with a kill to take control of the set 11-7. The Lancers did not go away quietly and faced match point twice before Smajlovic blasted through with the match winning kill to lock up the Redhawks' third win at home this year.
As a unit, the Redhawks locked in 53 kills, ten aces, nine blocks, 51 assists and 71 digs to grab their second ever program win over California Baptist in their current DI era.
Seattle U returns to action this Saturday, traveling to Grand Canyon for a rematch with the Lopes. After getting the opening set off GCU at home, the Redhawks look to avenge the early season four set loss to the Lopes. The match is set for November 9 at noon PT.
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Two Redhawks posted double-double performances to snap CBU's five match winning streak over the Redhawks. Junior Merima Smajlovic was an absolute force, locking in 16 kills to go along with three aces and 11 digs. Senior Arianna Bilby nabbed her eighth double-double this year with 13 kills and a season high 19 digs. She paced the team with 5.0 blocks, while adding two aces and three assists.
Freshmen setters Grace Jones and Anae Asuncion combined for 46 of Seattle U's 51 assists, with Jones grabbing a new season best of 24. Asuncion was one shy of her season best of 23, posting 22 on the night. Jones also posted three of Seattle U's ten aces seen on the evening.
Senior Katlyn Sipes and junior Marley Hardgrave were the backbone of the Redhawk defense. Hardgrave stood tall at the net, racking up five blocks, while Sipes covered the gaps with 22 digs.
Entering Thursday night, the Redhawks hadn't grabbed a set off the Lancers in five matches. California Baptist struck first to extend its set winning streak over Seattle U to after opening the night with a 25-21 set one win. The Redhawks collected 14 kills to open the rematch, hitting .205 on 39 attacks and six errors, but CBU hit a .257 on 35 attacks for ten kills and one error.
Seattle U smothered the Lancers' offense in the second set as CBU hit .000 on 30 attacks for eight kills and eight errors. In turn, the Redhawks recorded 12 kills hitting .226 on 31 attacks and five errors. In a back and forth trade early in the second set, the Redhawks rattled off two separate 4-0 scoring runs to go up 17-13. CBU pulled within two behind a kill to make it 20-18 in favor of the Redhawks, but Seattle U iced the set with a 5-0 run.
The Redhawks did not hold back in the third set and led by as many as 16. Jones kick started the bountiful scoring effort from the service line, breaking the 2-2 tie with an ace. She wouldn't yield the serve for another seven points before CBU was finally able to cut off the 8-0 run with a kill.
In response, Smajlovic decided to lead her own run from the service line, racking up two of her three aces back-to-back to get the Redhawks up 15-4. When CBU broke through, freshman Ivy Brown told her own tale with her serve, grabbing an ace and guiding the Redhawks to a 21-5 lead.
The Lancers chipped at the deficit but a kill from Bilby and a block from both Bilby and Hardgrave put Seattle U up 23-9. Another kill from Bilby got the Redhawks to set point before an error from CBU locked up the set 25-11 for the Redhawks.
Seattle U didn't record a single error in the third set, hitting at a .333 clip for eight kills. They racked up five aces and four blocks while taking advantage of ten CBU errors.
The Lancers forced a fifth set after grabbing 14 kills on 32 attacks, hitting .313 in the fourth set. The Redhawks picked up ten kills and six errors.
At the start of the final set, neither team could wrestle away a padded lead as the two traded scores until the Lancers led 7-6. Bilby jump started a 5-0 run for the Redhawks with a kill to take control of the set 11-7. The Lancers did not go away quietly and faced match point twice before Smajlovic blasted through with the match winning kill to lock up the Redhawks' third win at home this year.
As a unit, the Redhawks locked in 53 kills, ten aces, nine blocks, 51 assists and 71 digs to grab their second ever program win over California Baptist in their current DI era.
Seattle U returns to action this Saturday, traveling to Grand Canyon for a rematch with the Lopes. After getting the opening set off GCU at home, the Redhawks look to avenge the early season four set loss to the Lopes. The match is set for November 9 at noon PT.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.