KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Western Athletic Conference volleyball leader Missouri-Kansas City rallied past Bakersfield to defeat the Roadrunners 3-1 in league play Thursday night.

UMKC jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the opening set before the 'Runners scored the next five in a row to tie the match. The 'Roos scored the next two before CSUB responded with the next three for the first lead at 12-11. The Roadrunners' would end up with a 7-2 run for a 16-12 lead. The Kangaroos responded by scoring five of the next six points to climb within one, but Danika Youngblood's (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) kill returned the serve to CSUB. Missouri-Kansas City pulled to within one on six occasions. Bakersfield pushed the advantage to 23-21 when Youngblood gave CSUB set point on a kill down the line. A Kansas City hitting error gave the first set to the 'Runners 25-21.

A 9-2 run early in the second set helped the UMKC take a 22-13 lead. Bakersfield called their second timeout and rattled off three in a row to force a Kansas City timeout.  The timeout worked as the Kangaroos would take the set by a 25-16 count.

Bakersfield overcame a 4-0 Kangaroos' start in the third set to take a 10-6 lead. The Kangaroos used a timeout to their advantage, coming out of the break and getting the momentum back with a 9-1 spurt for a 15-11 lead.  Down 17-12, Bakersfield climbed back to within two at 20-18, but UMKC scored five of the next eight points for a 25-21 set victory.

Set four featured 10 ties and five lead changes. With the score tied at 14, the Kangaroos scored six of the next seven points for a five point lead. The Roadrunners responded, cutting the advantage to 21-19, but UMKC (21-3) earned a 25-21 set victory to take the match and remain undefeated in league play (9-0).

Kansas City's Jessica Hendin led all players with 21 kills. Sydney Crimmins registered 10 kills and 17 digs. Nicole Wemhoff also had a double-double as she recorded 20 assists and 12 digs. Taryn Miller was the match leader with 36 digs. The Kangaroos out blocked CSUB 16.5-3 and held Bakersfield to .128 hitting. The Roadrunners played tough defense, holding the 'Roos to a .167 hitting percentage.

Bakersfield (10-13, 6-4 WAC) was paced by Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS ) who charted 17 kills. Youngblood earned her 12th double-double of the year with 15 kills and 19 digs.  Luiza Martins (Jr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) dished out 46 assists and had a season high 20 digs for her seventh double-double of the year. Mariah Alvidrez (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) posted a season best 31 digs, three off of her career high.  The Roadrunners held a 92-87 digs advantage.

The Roadrunners continue a three-game road swing Saturday when the 'Runners travel to Chicago State. The match is set for a 1 p.m. (CDT) start. Bakersfield returns to the Icardo Center Nov. 13 when CSUB hosts Utah Valley for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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