The Triton men’s volleyball team lost its home finale to California Baptist University, 3-2, in a non-conference match on April 13. Despite its good start, UCSD was unable to defeat the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics top-ranked Lancers. Cal Baptist prevailed, taking three of five games, 24-30, 30-26, 30-28, 24-30, 15-8.
In the first game, the Tritons were down, 12-13, but scored six of the next seven game points to take an 18-14 lead. The Tritons were able to hold on the rest of the match and win game one.
“We came out and played hard,” junior outside hitter Adam Toren said . “We have beaten quality top-ranked opponents already this year and so we knew we had a good chance.”
The Tritons looked good in game two, taking a 16-15 lead. After a timeout, however, the visiting Lancers quickly acted and went up, 18-16. The frame was tied four more times. Cal Baptist flexed its muscles and took a 26-25 advantage.
Tied at 1-1 going into the third game, the Lancers took over, staying ahead at 23-19. The resilient Tritons tied the match at 25-25 on a triple block by senior Jim Waller, senior Kevin Keyser and Toren. Each team then went on 2-0 mini-runs to tie it at 27-27. A kill by Cal Baptist, followed by a service error, made the score 28-28. Kills by the Lancers’ junior opposite Shaun Dyk and sophomore outside hitter Seiju Ajanako gave the Lancers the lead in the match, 2-1.
UCSD controlled the fourth game from beginning to end, jumping out to an 11-3 lead, a score which Cal Baptist could not surmount. Having forced a fifth and deciding game, the Lancers, like the Tritons in the fourth game, led from start to finish. The Lancers took the game and match, to the disappointment of the Tritons.
“We kind of fell apart in the fifth game,” Toren said.
For the Tritons, Waller had seven digs and seven block assists in addition to his 22 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Jeff Urton and Toren contributed 15 and 13 kills, respectively.
Junior libero Dickens Tai reached the 15-dig mark for the fifth time this season, breaking the Triton single-season record for digs. He now has 235 total digs with one match to go. Keyser totaled eight blocks while four kills put him over the 500-kill plateau for his career. Freshman Brooks Dierdorff (30 assists) and redshirt junior Nate Jones (22) each saw time at setter.
Cal Baptist improved its top record in the NAIA to 20-3 overall while the Tritons dropped to 8-20 overall.
The game was the final home match for Triton seniors Waller, Keyser, Andy Rupp and Shawn Oksenendler, all four of whom were honored prior to the first serve.
“We will miss our seniors next year, no doubt about it,” Toren said. “But we have a lot of starters and talent coming back next year.”
The Tritons conclude the 2004 season on the road against the second-ranked 49ers of Long Beach State. The Tritons will play at The Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., on April 17. First serve is at 7:30 p.m.
