BOULDER, Colo. -  In dominating fashion, the CSU Bakersfield volleyball team limited its errors in one of its best performances of the year and rolled to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) victory over Norfolk State on Saturday at the Colorado Invitational at the Coors Event Center. The win came after a heartbreakingly close loss to host the host Buffaloes, who edged the 'Runners 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-13, 15-13) earlier on Saturday.

CSUB's junior outside hitter Debora Araujo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Western Nebraska C.C.) posted a match-high 10 kills, to go along with five digs, four assisted blocks and one service ace. Freshman opposite hitter Kelsee Sawyer (Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) added eight kills, while libero Mariah Alvidrez (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) tallied a season-high 18 digs and junior setter Fernanda Gonçalves  (Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Western Nebraska C.C.) recorded 29 assists.

The 'Runners (3-7) finished the weekend, which also included two games in the Air Force Falcon Invitational on Friday, with a 1-3 record.

In the intense showdown against the host Buffaloes (9-2), CSUB rebounded from a loss in the first set and came out firing to win the next two. The 'Runners featured a two-headed attack led by Araujo, who totaled 19 kills, and Sawyer, who tallied a career-high 18 kills. Gonçalves put up 40 assists to help the CSUB offense operate smoothly. Unfortunately for CSUB, Colorado stole back the momentum in the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2 and were then able to pull out the win, 15-13, in the final set to record the victory.

CSUB will return to action when it hosts its home opener on Thursday night against University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Thursday at the Icardo Center. The match will be the first of the Roadrunner Classic tournament, where CSUB will be hosting UMES and Utah Valley Thursday through Saturday.

~www.GoRunners.com~