Defending Champs Sail in Pool B at 2005 NAIA Volleyball National Championship

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Defending national champion California Baptist University may not be this year's top-seed, but that didn't stop the Lancers from winning both pool play matches at the 26th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University, the tournament is being played on campus in Golden Gymnasium November 30-December 3.

Vernania Willis propelled Cal Baptist to 30-20, 30-21, 28-30 and 30-16 victories against Doane College (Neb.) with 21 attacks.  Willis added 10 digs and two blocks.  Van Duyn recorded 63 assists as the Lancers had three players with double-digit kills.  Alison Weaver had 17 kills for Doane.  Gail Klitz, who set an NAIA record for digs in a match earlier this year with 62, had 18 digs during the match. 

The defending champs returned for their second match of the day, besting Cedarville University (Ohio) 3-0 (30-14, 30-16, 30-24).  Willis once again led the Lancers with 19 kills and nine digs.  Yudelka Bonilla added 13 kills and 15 digs in the win as Cal Baptist improved to 30-4.  The Lancers will face College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on Thursday.   The loss was Cedarville's second of the day, as the Yellow Jackets fell to Columbia College (Mo.) earlier, 3-0.  Columbia posted 30-23, 30-20, and 30-24 game wins as Rose Obunaga had 22 kills.  Erica Paugh led Cedarville with 24 kills.  The Yellow Jackets are 45-4 heading into tomorrow's match up with Doane College (Neb.).

The final match in Pool B ended with St. Mary (Neb.) blanking Doane 3-0 (32-30, 30-23, 30-27).  St Mary placed only two players in double-figure kills, Ashley Franzluebbers with 16 and Christi Huigens with 15.  Anne Jankowski handed out 51 assists in the match as St. Mary stands at 34-6.  Doane was led by Kari Hochstein's 17 kills and five blocks.  The Tigers fall to 23-15 with the today's two losses.

POOL B Results

California Baptist def. Doane (Neb.), 3-1 (30-20, 30-21, 28-30, 30-16)

Columbia (Mo.) def. Cedarville (Ohio), 3-0 (30-23, 30-20, 30-24)

California Baptist def. Cedarville, 3-0 (30-14, 30-16, 30-24)

St. Mary (Neb.) def. Doane, 3-0 (32-30, 30-23, 30-27)

POOL B Thursday Schedule (All times Pacific)

Doane vs. Columbia, 9 a.m.

California Baptist vs. St. Mary, 1:30 p.m.

Cedarville vs. Doane, 3:45 p.m.

St. Mary vs. Columbia, 6 p.m.

POOL B Standings

California Baptist 2-0

Columbia 1-0

St. Mary 1-0

Cedarville 0-2

Doane 0-2  

View the complete pool play schedule.