NASHVILLE - On the opening day of the 2024 season and the LUV Invitational, the Lipscomb University volleyball team rolled to a sweep of California Baptist University, Friday evening from Allen Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Cal Baptist 0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-17)
Location: Allen Arena 
Records: Lipscomb (1-0), Cal Baptist (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
An early battle out of the gate, the Bisons caught fire after a Courtney Jones kill to even the match at 5-5. Lipscomb maintained service with Karly McNabb behind the line, and thanks to kills by Jones and a combined block from Meg Mersman and Sophia Hudepohl, Lipscomb scored four straight to take the 9-5 lead. 

Later in the set, with the Bisons up 11-7, they were able to get the sideout on a Jones strike. The next two points were done by Hudepohl at the serve with back-to-back aces. 

Lipscomb kept the foot on the gas pedal for the rest of the set, as they won the opener 25-12 thanks to 16 kills in the frame and the defense limiting California Baptist to six. 

Leading the way in the first was Jones, who posted a .308 swing percentage with six kills on 13 attacks and committing just two errors. 

The Lancers rallied from the slow start to keep pace with the Bisons in the second set, but 20 kills by the home team gave them the 2-0 match lead with a 25-22 victory. 

The third set was a back-and-forth bout. CBU made it a 13-12 deficit after a Nicole Mauser kill, but the Bisons picked up the quick side-out and scored the next nine points to keep the momentum on the Lipscomb bench with the 22-13 advantage. 

Despite the Lancers scoring four of the next five points, the Bisons picked up an Addi Pelham kill on the second match point to seal the season-opening victory at home.
 
KEY STATISTICS
For the match, the Bisons tallied 50 total kills to the Lancers' 28. Limiting the errors on the front row, Lipscomb committed 12 errors and posted a .309 swing percentage. 

It was a career night for Courtney Jones, as she matched a career-high 20 kills. On 47 total swings, she committed just four errors for a .340 attack percentage.

Addi Pelham added 11 kills and committed one error in 22 swings, while Jada DiVita contributed 10 kills on 19 swings. 

Sophia Hudepohl assisted on 37 of the team's 50 kills and tied a career high in digs with 18.

Karlie McNabb dug out 12 attacks, while Kelsey Schenck added 10. 

HERD NOTES
-The last time Lipscomb won on the opening day of the season came during the 2020-21 spring season at Middle Tennessee State.
-Sophia Hudepohl tallied her 20th career double-double on Friday. The junior posted eight her freshman year and 11 last season. 
-Courtney Jones's 20 kills matched a career-high for the junior, and she hit this milestone for the third time in her career. 
-The Bisons posted a .309 swing percentage. In 2023, they achieved this feat seven times. 
 
UP NEXT
Day two of the LUV Invitational will happen Saturday night when the Bisons take on the Sun Devils of No. 17 Arizona State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Allen Arena.