RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Leading the match two sets to one, the Sonoma State volleyball team was on the verge of one of the biggest upsets in the country in 2017, but the top seed in the West Region and the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, California Baptist, rallied to win the final two sets in front of their home crowd, eliminating the Seawolves from the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament Thursday night at Van Dyne Gym in Riverside.  Set scores were 21-25, 25-23, 26-28, 25-18, 15-9.

Sonoma sees its season come to an end with a 20-9 record while the Lancers survived the scare to remain undefeated this season at 29-0.  CBU advances to the Regional semifinal Friday night against Cal State San Bernardino, which outlasted Azusa Pacific also in five sets Thursday night.

In the first game it was a battle of two top teams throwing jabs, but neither team throwing a big punch as they felt each other out. Sonoma State was very shaky from the service line missing three serves before the Lancers made it to 15 points. With the scores close Sonoma State called the first time out when Cal Baptist took their largest lead of the first game with a three-point lead to make it 16-13 after a big kill by fifth-yeasr senior and right side hitter Madison Witt.   Very quickly out of the time out it was senior outside Hitter Calan Seitz with a kill of her own to bring the match within two. After two aces by sophomore defensive specialist Ashleigh Phelps and then CCAA Libero of the year sophomore Megan Bohorquez the Seawolves had it tied at 18 each.

Sonoma State took the lead for the first time at 20-19 when Seitz tooled the block, forcing the No. 1 team in the country to call their first time out of the set.   Sonoma State forced the Lancers to call their second time out at the Seawolves took at 23-20 lead after what looked like to be a great attack, turned out to be a net violation by the home team.  One ball later a blast by senior middle hitter Kelsey McIntire but the game at game point, and then a hitting error by the home team gave Cal Baptist gave the underdogs the first set win finished by an 11-5 run, and a .429 hitting percentage in the first set.  

Acting like they have been there before the Seawolves continued to be solid in game two jumping out to an early lead by the score of 6-4, before the Lancers took the lead at 7-6.  Tie scores were the name of the game with both teams getting a lot of first ball kill swings, with both teams trading points six straight times all the way up to 16. The Seawolves finally broke through taking a slim 18-16 before the Lancers called their first time out of the second set.  A big block from freshman Amy Trephan, and junior Morgan Annala vs. four time all-conference first-teamer outside hitter Lauren Hackett helped the Seawolves take a 21-19, leading to another point which forced the home team to take their second and final timeout of the set. 

With the score 22-20 in favor of SSU, Cal Baptist came storming back after a huge dig by Phelps hit off the rafters and landed in the middle of the court tying the set at 23-23 and forcing Sonoma State into their first timeout of the set.  Unfortunately, a hitting error by Caiti Wiesner helped the Lancers with a 4-0 run, putting the Lancers at game point, and forcing Coach Bear Grassl to call his second and final time out.   Unfortunately, another miscue by the Seawolves gave the Lancers their fifth straight point and helped them win the set tying the match at one a piece.

In the third set the Seawolves stayed composed acquiring their sixth ace of the match early, and taking a 11-9 lead.  Then the big push came with Sonoma State taking a 14-9 lead in the pivotal set.  Unfortunately, a five-point run brought the home team racing back and within one, forcing the Seawolves to call their first timeout of the set.   The Seawolves struggled to contain the Lancers and unfortunately the home team had game point.  

As big players do in big games it was two kills by Seitz who helped tie the score at 25-25.  Then it was Annala with back to back kills to give Sonoma State their first set point of the match at 27-26.   With senior setter Courtney Seda who had been remarkable in setting the team went back to serve and forced the home team into an easy swing, it was the freshman Trephan who ripped a ball through a hole in the block to give Sonoma State the (2-1) set lead. 

In set number four the score was close with an 8-8 tie, before the Lancers jumped out to a 12-8 lead, and a 4-0 run which prompted Sonoma State to call their first timeout of the set.  Unfortunately, the time-out didn't stop the run taking it to 14-8.  It wasn't until Seitz found the floor with an attack to slow down momentum train for the Lancers.   The momentum stoppage was short lived at the Lancers kept on motoring down the track which forced Sonoma State to take their second time out at 13-19.  Things didn't get any better as the set continued as the Seawolves eventually lost.  Hitting percentage was a big deciding factor as Sonoma State hit a meager .082 and forcing a fifth and deciding set.

For only second time all year the Lancers of California Baptist faced a fifth set.  With the score close early a three-point run by the home team forced the Seawolves to call their first time out.  Two more points later and after a side switch the Lancers had their biggest lead of the match at 9-4, and a final time out was called by the Seawolves.  Unfortunately, the tide had turned and the eight-point run put the game out of reach and the Lancers went on to win 15-9.

Five Seawolves ended the night with double-digit kills, led by the 16 off the right hand of McIntire.  Seitz added 12, followed by 11 from Annala and 10 apiece from Trephan and Wiesner.  Seda handed out 52 assists and Bohorquez led all defenders with 26 digs.