The Dixie State College women’s volleyball team lost against California Baptist University 3-1.
The first set of the game started off neck-and-neck. Through the whole game neither team stayed too far behind. DSC followed through with its hits and it began as an even game.
Senior outside hitter Brita Jensen brought some powerful hits over the net that made multiple game changing points in the first set.
The team stayed consistent with its hits and gave CBU powerful serves to help it stay in the game.
The team was on its game with its blocking, as well as right side junior Pauline VonDinklage with razor edge digs. Unfortunately she couldn’t cut it with the first set. The Lancers won 21-25.
DSC started off strong in the second set. But the team had trouble keeping the ball in bounds with its hits. Its passes resulted in giving the Lancers a few easy points.
That’s when freshman middle Mercedes O’Neal, a general education major from West Jordan, came in to save the day. O’Neal rotated to the right side after normally playing middle blocker. She had multiple kills that turned the game back over to Dixie. DSC won the second set 25-19.
“My team drives me,” O’Neal said. “I want to be a leader on the court, and I know if I put the balls away that it’s going to help us, and then I don’t have to depend on anyone else if I can get my job done.”
DSC came back again being tied 1-1. A point saving block helped keep Dixie where they wanted to be.
DSC moved the ball around nicely as they were consistent in scrambling and striving to keep the ball in-bounds. Dixie never stayed more than 5 points behind in this third set.
But Dixie got off track in the final moments and resulted in a Lancer Victory with 19-25 on the third set.
The fourth set started off with Dixie trailing behind. DSC worked as a team to try to catch up to CBU by making many digs and blocking every other tip. DSC started catching up. With a time out on the fourth set, the score was 8-14 Lancers.
It didn’t matter where the ball landed for DSC. Dixie played every ball as they attempted to keep the ball in-bounds.
Some of Dixie’s efforts gave CBU some easy points, and CBU won the final set with the match win at 19-25.
The Red Storm play Point Loma Nazarene Friday at 8 p.m.
