Fresno led just 18-16 in set one and just 20-19 in set two before easing away. CSUB had two chances to serve for the third set, at 24-23 and 25-24, before the Bulldogs reeled off three consecutive points to finish the match.

Fresno took advantage of its superior height differential (the Bulldogs have nine players taller than the tallest Roadrunner) to put down 15 blocks. When they were in system, the Bulldogs had their way against CSUB's smaller block, making just two errors in the first two sets.

“We're going to get better as the season progresses, just as I thought we got better from the first set to the third set tonight,” said CSUB Head Coach John Price. “We're so young that we're going to make some mistakes early in the season. But I saw some good things and I'm confident we will continue to improve match by match.”

Senior setter Barbie Unfried (Bakersfield HS) opened her final collegiate season in good form, chipping in 28 assists, six kills and two blocks to lead CSUB. Junior Lindsay Toone (Liberty HS) and sophomore Lindy DeGeare (Stockdale HS) led the offense, sharing match-high honors with eight kills each.

Toone's total was a career high. Friday night was the first match she played in the front row at the NCAA level.

Baylee Platt, Brianna Clarke and Taylor Horton led a balanced Fresno State offense with eight kills apiece. Clarke chipped in a match-high nine blocks.

CSUB concludes play at the Fresno State Invitational with two matches Saturday. The 'Runners play UOP at 10 a.m. and UW-Green Bay at 5 p.m.