The California Baptist University women’s volleyball team will host The Joust Tournament in Riverside, California, from September 10 to 12, 2026, marking their first home competition of the season. The Lancers will face the University of North Dakota, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Idaho in this three-day event at Van Dyne Gym.
California Baptist enters the tournament with a 2-3 overall record coming off a 1-2 finish at the ASICS Invitational in Corvallis, Oregon. Their opening match on September 10 will be against the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, also holding a 2-3 record and coming off a recent four-set win over Mercer. This will be the first-ever meeting between CBU and North Dakota and CBU’s first Summit League opponent since 2023. North Dakota’s roster features Lilliana Montes, who ranks fourth nationally with a hitting percentage of .524.
On September 11, CBU will face Sacred Heart University, which has a 3-3 record and is nationally recognized for its strong serving statistics. Sacred Heart ranks tenth in the nation for aces per set, led by outside hitter Abbie Hagedom, who tops the country with 0.91 aces per set.
The tournament concludes on September 12 when the Lancers clash with the University of Idaho Vandals, holding a 4-2 record amid a long 12-game away stretch. The teams last met in 2019, with CBU falling in four sets in Moscow, Idaho.
The Lancers are ranked 44th nationally in blocks per set, averaging 2.58, with two matches featuring double-digit blocks this season. Freshman outside hitter Nalanie Neal has emerged as a key contributor, leading the team in kills and digs through the first five matches. Neal recorded 24 kills in a loss to Montana and ranks among the top 75 nationally in points and kills per set. She has been named Big West Freshman of the Week twice this season.
CSB Take
The Joust Tournament provides California Baptist University women’s volleyball a valuable opportunity to refine their play and capitalize on their home-court advantage early in the season. Freshman Nalanie Neal’s impactful performance highlights the team’s potential to contend within the competitive Big West Conference. Maintaining their strong blocking and countering the high-powered serving of their opponents will be critical as the Lancers aim to improve their record and gain momentum moving forward.
Source: Original report
