BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) recorded her seventh double-double in her last nine games to lead Bakersfield to a 3-0 victory over Grand Canyon in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday.

Leading 12-9 in the opening set, the 'Runners won five consecutive points on Youngblood's serve. Grand Canyon settled in and cut the lead to 19-15. The teams exchanged service errors and traded points to reach 20-18. Youngblood, who hit .714 in the first set, scored three of the final five CSUB points as Bakersfield took the opening set 25-18.

The 'Runners got off to a 12-9 start in set two. Bakersfield won seven of the next 12 points to take a 20-14 advantage. With the score at 20-14, Sydney Haynes (R-Fr., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) served the Roadrunners to two consecutive points.  Grand Canyon's Megan Byrnes earned a kill to halt the CSUB momentum at 21-15.

Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) responded with a kill and a seven-point 'Runner lead. An Eryn Riley (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Los Osos HS) put CSUB up by eight. Shannon Dugan's kill gave the ball back to the 'Lopes but Youngblood returned the favor to give Bakersfield eight set points. Grand Canyon would score their final point of the set on a 'Runner hitting error. A Grand Canyon hitting error gave Bakersfield a 25-17 set two victory.

Set three featured 10 ties and four lead changes. The Antelopes got the offense on track in what proved to be the final set as the Antelopes hit .268 during the competition. Down 21-19, Bakersfield called timeout. A pair of kills from Youngblood and Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) tied it at 21. A bad set by GCU's Michelle Steagall put the 'Runners back into the lead for the first time since it was 13-12 in the frame.

Natalie Tardy's kill created a 22-22 set, but her service error returned the lead to Bakersfield.  The Antelopes' Megan Byrnes tied it at 23 with a kill. O'Hagan's kill created a match point at 24-23. O'Hagan and Sawyer blocked Byrnes for the final point of the match to give CSUB a 25-23 final set victory.

Youngblood tallied a match high 13 kills to go along with 10 digs and two service aces. Youngblood is in the top three in the WAC in double-doubles as Saturday's performance was her eighth of the season.

O'Hagan hit .625 for the match and had 10 kills (10-0-16). Sawyer posted 11 kills and two blocks. Luiza Martins (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) tallied 41 assists, eight digs, and one block. Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) registered 19 digs.

Bakersfield (7-11, 3-2 WAC) outhit Grand Canyon (12-7, 2-4 WAC) .273-.187 and out dug the 'Lopes 61-48. GCU had six team blocks compared to three for the 'Runners.

The Roadrunners head to Seattle U Thursday for a 6 p.m. start. The match can be seen on the WAC Digital Network and is available through a link on GoRunners.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~