BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The Bakersfield volleyball team rallied from a set down and deficits in each set to defeat San José State in four Sunday afternoon.

The Spartans (4-13) took the opening set 25-19, outhitting the Roadrunners (11-9) .283-to-.209. With set two tied at 11 and on the serve of Danika Youngblood (Jr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC), Bakersfield went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. At 19-17, three straight serves by Mariah Alvidrez (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) led to a five-point CSUB lead. The 'Runners would go onto a 25-22 set victory.

The Roadrunners trailed early in set three and were tied with the Spartans for the ninth time at 11, but a 14-3 outburst gave the 'Runners a 25-14 set three victory. San José State led by as many as five in the fourth set. Bakersfield battled back, tying the score at 15 and would outpace the Spartans 10-6 down the stretch for the four-set victory.

Debora Araujo (Sr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) paced the 'Runners with 19 kills and a .368 hitting average (19-5-38). she added nine digs and two blocks. Kelsee Sawyer (So., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) had 15 kills while Shayna Guitare (Sr., Torrance, Calif., Pierce College) posted 10 kills. Alvidrez tallied 20 digs while Youngblood had 15 digs. CSUB setters Fernanda Gonçalves (Sr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) and Lisa Bartsch (Sr., Wuppertal, Germany, Augusta State) combined for 48 assists.

“I thought our team responded well," said Bakersfield head coach Jolene Shepardson. "We stayed patient. I think San José State did a great job of coming out really prepared and really aggressive. I felt like our team was really patient and stuck to the game plan. As soon as we got in a rhythm with our offense, swinging higher and a little harder, we came out as the aggressors and we just kept the pressure on them. (Against New Mexico State) we need to come out a little bit better. When somebody comes out as aggressively as San Jose State did, I want to respond a little quicker. We need to come out right back at them and be aggressive right away. But we did a great job of being patient, so I'm really proud of the girls tonight.”

The Roadrunners (3-3) host WAC leader New Mexico State (6-0) Thursday night beginning at 7 p.m.

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