Sophomore outside hitter Haleigh Haratyk (Corona, Calif., Centennial HS) recorded a match-high 17 kills in the CSU Bakersfield Volleyball team's season finale on Saturday night at the Icardo Center, but it was the Montana State Bobcats who came away with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-12) victory.

The showdown put an end to an impressive turnaround season for the Roadrunners, who went from a winless 2010 season to going 8-18 in 2011 under first-year head coach Jolene Shepardson.

The first game of the contest was extremely close with CSUB even taking a 23-19 lead, but the 'Runners couldn't hold on as the Bobcats fought back to win the frame that took extra points to decide.

"We did some good job of scoring points and we had them on their heels, but the errors let them get back in the game," Shepardson said. "We weren't able to get the momentum back."

Haratyk, who entered the week ranked No. 8 in Division I with 4.71 kills per set, also added seven digs. Libero Lauren Holderman (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) posted 15 digs and outside hitter Tika Smith (Sweetwater, Texas, Sweetwater HS) scooped up a season-high 13 digs to go with six kills. Sophomore setter Lisa Bartsch (Wuppertal, Germany, Augusta State) recorded 23 assists for the 'Runners.

Playing the final match of her four-year CSUB career, senior setter Danielle Gong (Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) added eight assists. She concludes her run as a Roadrunner ranked No. 11 on CSUB's all-time assist list with 1,119 assists.

Montana State (4-23) was led by 10 kills by Rachelle Allen and the Bobcats outblocked the 'Runners 10-3 in the match.

~www.GoRunners.com~