BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Bakersfield advanced to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament volleyball finals for the second consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over New Mexico State Friday night in the Icardo Center.

“Tonight's result definitely shows the hard work that the women have put in," said Bakersfield head coach Giovana Melo.

In a rematch of the 2013 WAC Tournament finals, the Aggies (the No. 2 seed) took set one by a 25-21 count.  The Roadrunners struggled getting their offense going as CSUB could only muster a .085 hitting percentage (15-11-47). Despite the offensive issues, Bakersfield battled back from being down by as many seven to 23-21. The Aggies called timeout, getting kills from Nathali Castellanos and Andrea Tauai to close out the set.

Bakersfield, the third seed, defeated NM State 26-24 in the second set. New Mexico State battled back from down 22-20 to earn a 23-22 advantage when Shelbi Goode and Bradley Nash blocked a Bakersfield attempt at the net. Bakersfield called timeout. Out of the break, Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) got the call and responded with a kill to tie the match. Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) put CSUB up one with a kill. NM State tied it up for the fifth time in the set when Nash recorded a kill. Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) returned the lead to the Roadrunners with kill. Youngblood gave the 'Runners the victory with a cross court kill.

The third set featured 13 ties. With score knotted up at 23, Jordan Abalos put the Aggies ahead with a kill from Hannah Walker. A bad set from Walker tied the match at 24. Youngblood put the Roadrunners into the lead 25-24. A Youngblood kill put CSUB up two sets to one, 26-24.

Bakersfield took a 12-8 lead when New Mexico State took its first timeout. The Roadrunners pushed the lead out to 18-13 when the Aggies scored back-to-back points. CSUB called its first timeout.  The teams each scored twice over the next four rallies. NM State called its final timeout with the Roadrunners leading 20-16. CSUB advanced the lead to 24-18 when the Aggies scored the next two points. Bakersfield earned the victory when Nash served the ball long. CSUB hit .467 in set four, registering 16 kills against two errors in 30 attempts.

The Roadrunners (15-14) were led by O'Hagan who had 20 kills, six digs, and four blocks. Danika Youngblood recorded her 14th double-double of the year with 14 kills and 12 digs. Luiza Martins (Jr., Rio deJaniero, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) posted her 12th double-double of the season with 55 assists and 12 digs. Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) had 12 kills while Sydney Haynes (Jr., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) had 10 kills. Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) earned at least 20 digs for the 14th time in 29 matches this season with 21.

New Mexico State (16-11) was led by Abalos who had a double-double of 18 kills and 12 digs. Nash and Gwen Murphy each tallied 11 kills.  The Aggies would outhit the 'Runners .229 to .217 in the match, with CSUB holding a 59-52 advantage in digs. Both teams posted nine team blocks.

“We just need to keep going and doing what we're doing, having some fun, and having some passion," Melo said.

Bakersfield advances to the WAC Tournament finals Saturday night against the fifth seed, Seattle U. The Redhawks defeated the top seed, UMKC, 3-2 Friday night. Saturday's championship match marks the first time in WAC Tournament history that neither of the top seeds have advanced to the championship match.

First serve is set for 5 p.m. Tickets for the WAC Tournament can be purchased online at vallitix.com.

“The whole season for us has been about becoming a team," Melo said. "It hasn't been one player that has made the difference; it has been the fact that they are working on getting better and becoming a team and playing as a team.”

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