SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The young CSUB volleyball team continued to find success as it grows up quickly on the road, splitting a pair of matches Saturday to earn a second place finish at the Sacramento State Invitational in Hornet Gym.
CSUB (3-3 overall) opened the day by taking the first set from a Santa Clara team ranked No. 25 in the first NCAA Division I poll. But the Broncos battled back to win 18-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-11. The Roadrunners came back in their final match to down former CCAA and Division II national rival UC Riverside 25-17, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19.
“I thought we had a great tournament,” said CSUB Head Coach John Price, whose team is 3-3 through the first six matches of a 17-match road trip to open the season. “We're still young, but we as we continue to gain experience, it becomes more difficult to tell.”
Several Roadrunners stood out Saturday. Senior setter Barbie Unfried (Bakersfield HS) continued to shepherd the young offense to its best attack percentage of the season (.265) in the win over Riverside. Sophomore middle blocker Alysia Baker (Vista/Tri-City Christian HS) hit .400 with 11 kills in the win over the Highlanders.
“Barbie's leadership and decision making make such a big difference for us,” said Price. “So much of our success this season, especially early, will depend on her ability to provide those elements to our young players.”
Sophomore outside hitter Lindy DeGeare (Stockdale HS) hit .333 for the day while matching her career high with 14 kills in the win over the Highlanders. Senior libero Kayla Williamson (Stockdale HS) had another amazing day in the back row. After nearly breaking her own five-set record (41) with 39 digs in Friday's win over Sacramento State, she broke her own record (35) with 36 digs in the four-set win over UCR.
For good measure, she added three aces as she continues to inch closer to Erica Baldwin's career record of 214.
The 'Runners came out on fire and put West Coast Conference power Santa Clara on its heels early. They led virtually the entire first set, never letting the Broncos within six points over the last half of the set.
The second set remained close until a 5-1 Santa Clara run broke a 14-14 tie and CSUB never recovered. SCU pulled away again midway through the third set before racing to a big lead against the 'Runner reserves to put the match away in the fourth.
CSUB saved some of its best volleyball of the season for UCR. The 'Runners hit a season-high .405 while leading wire-to-wire in the first set. The second set was closer, with a 6-1 CSUB streak breaking a 13-13 tie en route to another 25-17 win.
UCR righted its ship in the third set, holding off the 'Runners late to force a fourth set. But a Baker kill and service ace put CSUB up 3-0 to open the fourth set and the Highlanders never got within two points of the lead.
CSUB heads to Texas for matches at UT-San Antonio and UT-Pan American Tuesday and Wednesday. The 'Runners will play at the Houston Baptist Husky Classic Friday and Saturday.
