KANSAS CITY, Mo—CSU Bakersfield rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Missouri-Kansas City 3-2 in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon.

The Kangaroos connected on six of their first eight attempts to take a 9-6 lead in the first set.  The Roadrunners trailed 16-10 at one point before coming back with a 10-1 spurt to take a 20-17 lead.  With CSUB leading 21-19, the teams traded the next four points.  CSUB pushed the lead to three and earned triple set point at 24-21. UMKC responded with the next two points. The Roadrunners called timeout and went to Carol Grasso who came up with a cross-court kill to provide CSUB with set point and a 25-23 victory.

CSU Bakersfield jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set to force a UMKC timeout.  CSUB controlled most of the early portion of the frame. The Roadrunners would push their advantage to 15-10 before UMKC closed the set by scoring 15 of the final 22 points to even the match 25-22.

The Roadrunners took a 10-7 lead to begin the third set. UMKC responded with a 5-2 run to tie the set. The teams played to ties at 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 before a CSUB hitting error led to a 20-19 Kangaroo lead. Skyler Muff posted a kill for UMKC to put the 'Roos up by two. The Roadrunners' 10th hitting error of the set made it 22-19. Megan Kerns' kill would put UMKC up by four.  CSUB would get one more point before the 'Roos earned a 25-20 set victory on a Muff kill.

CSUB Bakersfield started strong again, opening the fourth set by earning six of the first nine points. The Kangaroos scored the next three for a 6-6 set.  The momentum went back to the Roadrunners as CSUB scored the next four points. The 'Runners would defeat UMKC 25-18 to send the match to the decisive fifth set.

Sawyer got the fifth set underway for CSUB with a back-to-back kills. Sydney Crimmins got the Kangaroos on the board with kill down the middle. A Sydney Haynes attack went off a UMKC hitter and earned CSUB a 3-1 lead. The Roadrunners went up 4-1 on a Kangaroo hitting error.  UMKC would call timeout, but a hitting error pushed the CSUB lead to four.  Megan Kerns kill returned the serve to the Kangaroos at 5-2.

Kortney Freeland's kill regained the serve for CSUB. Sawyer again recorded a kill for a 7-2 advantage. Jessica Hendin registered a kill for UMKC. Edithza Urias' kill advanced the lead to 8-3.  Madison Mosier put down a kill for the 'Roos. UMKC climbed to within three on a CSUB ball handling error. CSUB went back to Urias who placed a kill on the deep left side. A CSUB hitting error again created a three-point set.

UMKC's third service error of the day was followed by a Kangaroo ball handling error. At 11-6, CSUB committed a service error. Grasso returned the serve to the Roadrunners with a kill. Another service error by CSUB put the ball back into the hands of the 'Roos. The teams traded points to create a 13-9 score.

The Kangaroos narrowed the gap to three when CSUB committed a hitting error.  A UMKC hitting error gave the Roadrunners four match points. The Kangaroos got one point back on a Hendin kill.  Urias went cross court for the match winning point, 15-11.

“We executed our game plan and came out ready to play,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo. “I am very proud of our team!”

Kelsee Sawyer led the all players with 23 kills.  Grasso posted a double-double of 17 kills and 20 digs. Luiza Martins tallied 48 assists and eight digs. Sophie Flemion had 18 digs.

UMKC was led by Crimmins who had 15 kills. Hendin recorded 13 kills while Mosier had 12. Kansas City setter Kaylyn Brand went for 34 assists and 10 digs.

CSU Bakersfield returns home Oct. 24 when the Roadrunners host Grand Canyon at 12 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com. The match can also been seen on the WAC Digital Network.

~www.GoRunners.com~