BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Fifth games continue to be the bane of the 2007 season for the CSUB volleyball team as victory narrowly avoided the Roadrunners again in a 30?24, 28?30, 29?31, 30?24, 15?12 loss to Utah Valley University Saturday afternoon at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield (4?14 overall) has played four game fives in 2007. The Roadrunners lost the first three of those 15?13 before falling by three points Saturday afternoon.
CSUB junior libero Mystie McNaughton (Stockdale HS) collected a career?high 36 digs ? the No. 2 mark for a match in Roadrunner history ? and junior outside hitter Sarah Norman (Stockdale HS) added a 26?kill, 19?dig double?double, but it wasn't enough.
Freshman outside hitter Kayli Broadbent equaled Norman's match?high 26 kills while adding seven blocks for the Wolverines. Junior outside hitter Camie Manwell chipped in a 16?kill, 27?dig double?double to help UVU improve to 14?6.
Saturday's match picked up where Friday's meeting between these teams ended, with Utah Valley a step quicker and more aggressive in keeping plays alive. The 'Runners, meanwhile, made nine hitting errors in a 30?24 game one loss. Bakersfield settled into game two, however, and its effort level rose with its success as it pulled ahead late then held on for the 30?28 victory.
Five Norman kills and three Rosemary Stribling (West HS) blocks helped the 'Runners open a 27?20 lead in game three. But UVU rallied as Allyce Wilson served six consecutive points as part of a 7?0 run that tied the match. A Norman kill and a Wilson double eventually gave Bakersfield a 31?29 win, but the wheels of a Wolverine comeback had been set in motion.
Neither team led by more than two points in game four until a pair of Dani Robison kills and another by Broadbent broke a 21?21 tie. The 'Runners never caught up as UVU held on, 30?24, to force the decisive fifth game.
The fate of game five wasn't decided until late. Tied at 10?10, Broadbent took over, putting down her final three kills of the match, including a set from Kristi Lindley in transition on match point.
CSUB returns to the road to take on Fresno State Tuesday and the University of the Pacific Friday. The 'Runners return to the Icardo Center for the their final home matches of 2007 when they host Fresno Pacific and Fresno State Oct. 23 and 24.
UVU will be off until Thursday when it hosts Boise State in 7 p.m. match.
