MORAGA, Calif. ? For the second time in less than a month, the CSUB volleyball team staged a titanic comeback only to fall two points shy of upsetting Saint Mary's College. Saturday night, the Roadrunners were left for dead after Saint Mary's dismantled them in the first two games before coming nearly all the way from behind in a 30?17, 30?22, 30?32, 25?30, 15?13 loss to the Gaels in Moraga.
Senior defensive specialist Erica Baldwin, CSUB's all?time service ace leader, notched two Saturday to become the first Roadrunner to reach 200 for her career. But the statistical story was junior outside hitter Sarah Norman, who collected a career?high 32 kills, the third highest total in CSUB history. She had her previous career high of 30 kills the last time these teams met.
Junior libero Mystie McNaughton added a match?high 29 digs for CSUB (4?12 overall). Megan York and Taylor Groess led Saint Mary's (8?4) with 26 and 21 kills respectively.
When these teams met Sept. 1 in Bakersfield, CSUB also rallied form a two games to none hole only to fall 15?13 in game five. Saturday night, it didn't appear the Roadrunners would ever get that close.
Saint Mary's opened game one on a 13?4 run and never let CSUB within arm's length. In game two, the 'Runners led 15?13 before another 13?4 Saint Mary's run put the Gaels back in control. When momentum swung in CSUB's favor midway through game three, it appeared as if the 'Runners had righted the ship, but they had another battle to fight just to stay in the match.
Two kills and a block by Norman helped the 'Runners turn a 23?21 lead into a seemingly safe 28?24 advantage. But the Gaels quickly tied the match at 28. CSUB gave away one game point at 29?28 then saved a match point at 29?30 before a Melissa Myers block and a Jodi Hardin kill gave the 'Runners a 32?30 win and forced game four.
Game four was tight throughout, but a Gabe Curtis kill and an ace by McNaughton broke a 19?19 tie and CSUB eased its way towards the decisive fifth game.
As happened in the first meeting, the teams traded points for the first half of game five. But with Saint Mary's leading 9?8, a Christy Payne ace gave the Gaels the tiny window they needed. CSUB closed to within one point several times but couldn't find the tying point before time eventually ran out.
Saturday's match concluded a nine?match road trip for CSUB. The 'Runners will take nearly three weeks off before returning home to face fellow NCAA Division I independent Utah Valley University Oct. 12 in the Icardo Center.
