BAKERFSIELD, Calif. ? For three and a half sets, it looked as if the CSUB volleyball team was going to put a pin in Fresno Pacific's 34?match winning streak. But the Sunbirds rallied to earn a hard-fought 26-24, 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-7 win Wednesday night at the Icardo Center.
Senior outside hitter Sarah Norman (Stockdale HS) collected nine of her match-high 20 kills in the first set. Senior middle blocker Rosemary Stribling (West HS) added 17 kills for CSUB.
Senior libero Mystie McNaughton (Stockdale HS) chipped in a match-high 15 digs as she inched closer to Camille Mitchell career record of 1,793. McNaughton now has 1,761 career digs and is on pace to break the record during the rematch with Fresno Pacific on Nov. 12.
Brazilian star Thais Julio led four FPU attackers in double figures with 15 kills. Ke Ke Wong added 14 kills and eight blocks while Shu Liu tallied 48 assists.
CSUB (13-12 overall) nearly took a first set brilliantly played by both teams. The Valley rivals played through 20 ties and nine lead changes. The set went deuce twice before FPU (23-0) took the final two points for what proved to be the critical win.
The points were critical because the Roadrunners pulled away midway through the next two sets to take a two sets to one lead in the match. Freshman outside hitter Lindy DeGeare (Stockdale HS) highlighted that run by serving five consecutive aces to help the 'Runners pull away in the third set. DeGeare finished with six aces for the match, making her just the ninth player in CSUB history to accomplish that feat.
Bakersfield found itself poised on the brink of victory when it took an early lead in the fourth set, expanding it to as many as five points at 15-10 and 16-11. The 'Runners held their advantage until a Shu Liu ace gave Fresno its first lead at 21-20.
The teams traded points until three consecutive kills by Julio broke a 22-22 tie and forced the decisive fifth set.
Fresno raced to a 9-2 lead in the fifth to take control of the match.
CSUB will take the weekend off before hosting Big West Conference rival Cal State Northridge Nov. 6.
