OREM, Utah. ? The CSUB volleyball team made short work of its first two opponents at the NCAA Division I Independent Championships Friday evening in Orem, Utah. Bakersfield blitzed Chicago State 30?22, 30?7, 30?24 in the opener before sweeping New Jersey Tech 30?17, 30?22, 30?20 in the late match.

The wins set up a showdown with host and top seed Utah Valley University in Saturday's championship match. Utah Valley outlasted the Roadrunners in five games when the teams last met in October at the Icardo Center.

Senior outside hitter Jodi Hardin is putting an emphatic end to her collegiate career after two impressive outings Friday. Hardin had a match?high 14 kills and .444 attack percentage in the win over Chicago State. She came back to lead all attackers with 13 kills while hitting .480 in the sweep of NJIT.

As the scores indicated, the 'Runners faced little resistance against Chicago State. Bakersfield never trailed in the match. Game two proved to be a CSUB tour de force as the 'Runners bolted to an incredible 19?2 lead while holding the Cougars to a CSUB opponent record low seven points.

Sarah Norman and Melissa Myers each chipped in 11 kills against Chicago as the 'Runners hit .404 for the match. Erica Baldwin added four of CSUB's 14 aces.
NJIT put up a bit more of a fight. The Highlanders clawed to within 26?21 late in game two and 19?15 midway through game three, but never got over the hump as CSUB completed the sweep.

Sophomore outside hitter Kate McWhorter matched Hardin's match?high of 13 kills against NJIT. Norman added 11 kills while Mystie McNaughton led three 'Runners in double figures with 18 digs.

CSUB will close out its first full season of NCAA Division I play with a chance to bring home the NCAA Division I Independent title when it meets Utah Valley at 5 p.m. PST in Orem, Utah.