BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - CSUB volleyball fans waited for 32 days and
17 matches to finally see their team take the Icardo Center court for the 2009
home opener Wednesday night. The result was well worth the wait as the
Roadrunners came from behind three times to upend Big West Conference foe Cal
State Northridge 18-25, 25-13, 16-25, 25-23, 15-12.
It
was the third consecutive five-set thriller between the two schools, who split
a pair that went the distance in 2008.
CSUB
(8-10 overall) won with serving and defense. The Roadrunners tallied 68 digs
Wednesday, led by senior libero Kayla Williamson (Stockdale HS) with 30. Senior setter Barbie Unfried
(Bakersfield HS) had a
career-high seven total blocks, including a solo block of Britney Graff on
match point, as part of CSUB's team season-high 15 blocks.
The
Roadrunner defense benefited greatly from a strong night at the service line.
Led by sophomore Lindy DeGeare's (Stockdale HS) five aces, six different Roadrunners
contributed to the team's 11 total aces.
"How
we won tonight is how we've found success all year," said CSUB Head Coach John Price. "We served tough, passed well and played good defense.
"We
have 18 matches under our belts now, but we're still a young team. If we keep battling the way we did
tonight, I like the direction in which we are headed."
Northridge
(4-11) used a quick 5-1 run midway through the first set before holding off a
late Roadrunner rally for the win. But CSUB pulled away early in the second set
behind five Lindsay Toone (Liberty HS) kills to win going away and even the match at 1-1.
Momentum
proved a fickle mistress in this match, however, swinging right back to the
Matadors in the third set. Northridge hit .370 in the third set as Angela
Hupps' five kills led to an easy win and seeming control of the match.
The
fourth set was close throughout. CSUB avoided facing match-point when kills by Alysia Baker (Vista/Tri-City Christian HS)
and Toone broke a 23-23 tie and forced the fifth set.
Once
again, momentum teased the Matadors. Northridge led from the first point,
opening a 10-6 lead, before the Roadrunners finally took control.
A
Toone kills and a pair of Unfried blocks kick-started a 6-1 run that gave CSUB
its first lead, 12-11. A CSUB error allowed the Matadors one final tie before
Baker's match-high 15th kill pointed the way to ultimate victory for
Bakersfield.
In
addition to her 15 kills, Baker added five blocks and two aces. Toone had 13
kills and DeGeare reached double figures with 12 to pace the CSUB offense.
Brittany
Williams led the Matadors with 14 kills. Hupp added 12 kills and nine total
blocks.
CSUB
takes to the road - again - when it plays consecutive matches at South Carolina
State Friday and Saturday in Orangeburg. The Roadrunners return home to host UC
Riverside Oct. 9.
