by California Baptist Athletics on 2016-07-20
MORENO VALLEY >> Throughout the last three years, California Baptist University's women's volleyball team has worked its way closer and closer to its first NCAA postseason berth.
Excitement has built up along the way and may be coming to a head, as the Lancers return all but one starter for the 2016 season.
It would have been harder to get any closer to the playoffs than CBU did last season. The team went 21-7 and 14-6 in the PacWest to tie for second place in the conference with Point Loma Nazarene University — earning the final at-large postseason spot.
Far from discouraged, the Lancers will have opportunities to prove themselves in 2016. Two challenging tournaments to start the season should prepare them for PacWest play and hopefully the Division II playoffs.
After opening up at the Route 92 Tournament the last two years, CBU will debut at Point Loma's Seaside Invitational Sept. 2 through 3. It all starts with a match against Western New Mexico on Sept. 2 and a contest with Saginaw Valley later that evening. The next day, the Lancers will face California State University, Dominguez Hills and Chadron State College.
With one tournament down, CBU will have a chance to make an impression on the Division II landscape and pave the way to the playoffs at the West Region Crossover, an expansion of the GNAC-PacWest Crossover from the last two seasons to include CCAA teams.
Sonoma State University will host the 12-match tournament Sept. 8 through Sept. 10 which includes six teams — the top-two finishers from all three conferences in 2015. CBU will face four of the eight playoff teams from last year: 2015 CCAA champion Sonoma State on Sept. 8, California State University, San Bernardino on Sept. 9, reigning West Region champion Western Washington on Sept. 9 and the 2015 GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage Sept. 10.
Once the tournament competition winds down, CBU will serve up PacWest play and open at home Sept. 17 against Fresno Pacific at 5 p.m. A trip to three of the conference's Northern California teams: Holy Names on Sept. 21, Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 23 and Dominican on Sept. 24. is up next.
Hawaii Hilo visits the Van Dyne Gym on Sept. 28, with the Lancers taking to Fresno Pacific later in the week on Oct. 1. Repeat opponents continue when Notre Dame de Namur comes to Riverside on Oct. 5.
A short trip to second-year conference member Concordia on Oct. 8 leads into a challenging run for the Lancers. They host conference rivals Azusa Pacific on Oct. 12 and Point Loma on Oct. 15. Later, they will travel to reigning conference champion Dixie State on Oct. 22.
On the road again, the Lancers play two matches in Hawaii against Chaminade on Oct. 28 and Hawaii Pacific on Oct. 29.
Down the stretch, CBU will play five of its final seven regular-season matches at home. Academy of Art and Concordia get the home cooking started on Nov. 3 and 5, respectively.
A conference title could very well be decided in CBU's final five PacWest matches. It will face three of the top four teams from the conference in 2015, and also has to make two trips into rival territory. A short trip back to San Diego and Point Loma on Nov. 7 leads into three home matches with Dixie State Nov. 11, BYU-Hawaii Nov. 12 and Hawaii Pacific Nov. 14 for the Lancers. Their regular season concludes at conference-rival APU on Nov. 19.
While it certainly will not be an easy road, the women's volleyball team will have all the opportunity to achieve their goal. The Lancers will be armed with six seniors, two All-Americans and four former All-PacWest players in their pursuit of a conference title and postseason berth.
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