BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--Bakersfield rallied from a 2-0 down to defeat Western Athletic Conference volleyball leader New Mexico State 3-2 Thursday night in the Icardo Center.

The Aggies (11-9, 6-1 WAC) earned a 25-14 opening set victory, holding the Roadrunners (12-9, 4-3 WAC) to .000 hitting (6-6-27) before taking set two by a 25-18 count. After hitting .091 in the second set, the 'Runners used a strong defense, to hold NM State to .128 hitting in set three and earned a 26-24 victory. Bakersfield won the fourth set by a score of 26-24.

The Aggies got off to a strong start in the fifth, by three and on serve at 11-8, Debora Araujo (Sr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Western Nebraska C.C.) got the sideout for the 'Runners with a kill. On Mariah Alvidrez's (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) serve, Bakersfield won the next four points to go up 13-11. After a NM State sideout, the Roadrunner defense forced a pair of Lauren Loerch attack errors to win the match 15-12.

Araujo recorded a match high 20 kills. She also had eight digs and two blocks. Kelsee Sawyer (So., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) had 13 kills. Fernanda Gonçalves tallied her 10th double-double of the year with 45 assists and 10 digs. Alvidrez led all players with 18 digs.

“New Mexico State is a great team,” said Bakersfield head coach Jolene Shepardson. “We weren't executing our defensive game plan early on, but I love how aggressive we were on offense. As soon as we started to get momentum, our team started to take bigger rips and we really went after it.”

The Roadrunner home stand continues Saturday night when Bakersfield hosts Texas-Pan American at 7 p.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~