BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield (10-12, 8-2 WAC) overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Utah Valley (13-11, 8-3 WAC) 3-2 in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Roadrunners sped past the Wolverines for second place in the WAC.

“Today was about our team fighting and heart more than anything else,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo.

The opening set featured 11 ties and six lead changes before CSUB defeated Utah Valley 27-25. Edithza Urias and Kelsee Sawyer combined for 11 of the first set kills for the 'Runners. The Wolverines committed one hitting error in the second set, hit .542, and posted an 80% side out percentage (12-of-15) to defeat the Roadrunners 25-14.

The Wolverines outhit the Roadrunners .419 to .314 in the third set to defeat CSUB 25-20. The Roadrunners made only four hitting errors in the fourth set in 22 attempts to hit .455 to send the match to five 25-17.

The Roadrunners opened set five with a 5-1 spurt. UVU rallied, closing the gap to 9-8 before tying the set for the first of six times at 12-12. A Lexi Thompson hitting error made it 13-12 in favor of CSUB. An Urias' hitting error tied the match at 13. Lauren Bakker committed a hitting error to give the Roadrunners their first match point. Utah Valley warded match point off when Abby Jensen recorded a kill.

A CSUB attack error provided the Wolverines their first match point at 15-14, but Carol Grasso's kill tied things up at 15. CSUB's second match point again came off a Jensen hitting error. Sierra Starley's kill knotted the set at 16. The Roadrunners called Grasso's number and she responded with a kill for a third match point. UVU again staved off a CSUB victory when Grasso committed a hitting error. On the ensuing possession, Grasso put down a kill for match point number four. CSUB clinched the match when Sydney Haynes and Luiza Martins blocked a Thompson attempt to make it 19-17 and earn the 'Runners the win.

“We are trying to become better as a team,” Melo said. “Our kids are stepping up a little more in every game. When we need one of them to step up they have been. I am very happy about that.”

Martins dished out 66 assists, three off of the CSUB Division I school record held by Gabe Curtis who turned in 69 assists in a five set match against UVU in 2007. Martins also added 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the year and 17th of her career.

Grasso recorded her fourth consecutive double-double with a match high 23 kills and a match high 21 digs. Sawyer tallied 21 kills while Urias had 13. Haynes posted 11 kills and four blocks. Jensen led UVU with 22 kills. Lauren Bakker had 17 kills while Starley; the Wolverine setter earned a double-double of 49 assists and 12 digs.

CSUB heads to first place NM State (21-5, 10-0 WAC) Thursday night for a 7 p.m. (MST) start. The game can be seen on Fox College Sports Pacific or online at GoRunners.com. The Roadrunners return home Nov. 12 against Missouri-Kansas City. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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