CORVALLIS, Ore. — First-year head
coach Jolene Shepardson recorded her first win at the helm of the CSU
Bakersfield Volleyball program as the Roadrunners defeated Seattle University
3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-23) on Sunday in the Active Oregon State Active Ankle
Challenge.
Kill-slamming sophomore Haleigh Haratyk (So., Corona, Calif.,
Centennial HS) led the Roadrunner attack with a match-high 19 kills. All three
sets were back-and-forth battles, but with the games on the line, Haratyk
stepped up for CSUB and connected for the winning kill in each set. Freshman
Saelina Dunn (Long Beach, Calif., Wilson HS) added 10 kills for CSUB, while
sophomore Chelcy Motes (Thatcher, Ariz., Thatcher HS) chipped in seven.
“To the players' honor, they
stepped up and competed,” Shepardson said. “There were some tight situations
and they really kept themselves composed and really started to shine as
competitors. That is what we have been working for. We have seen glimpses of
it, but we brought it consistently in three sets. We are really proud of them.”
Lisa Bartsch (So., Wuppertal,
Germany, Augusta State) and Danielle Gong (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale
HS) tallied 17 and 15 assists respectively and Lauren Holderman (R-So.,
Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) recorded nine digs. CSUB served up six
aces in the match.
The victory put an end to CSUB's
35-match losing streak that dated back to last season and lead to a big team
celebration on the court after the match.
“I am excited about our first win
here, but we are back on our jobs for tomorrow,” said Shepardson, who was already looking forward to the Roadrunners' third and final match of the Oregon State Active Ankle Challenge on
Sunday against Loyola Marymount at 10 a.m.
The Roadrunners opened up the
tournament with a 3-0 loss (25-16, 25-14, 25-14) to the host Beavers.
Against the Beavers, Haratyk led
the Roadrunner attack with nine kills whileTika Smith (R-Jr.,
Sweetwater, Texas, Sweetwater HS) added five.
Holderman hit a team-high six digs while Gong added five. Smith served up the lone ace for CSU and Haratyk
and Molly O'Hagan (Fr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie, Kan.) guarded the net for
the 'Runners with four assisted blocks each.
~www.GoRunners.com~
