BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The CSU Bakersfield sand volleyball team fell to No. 6 Loyola Marymount in a match that feature tightly contested sets across the board. The Lions defeated the 'Runners 4-1 at the Student Recreation Center Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday.
“I thought our women compete hard,” said Olivia Simko, head coach of the CSUB sand volleyball team. “I think each of them played one of their best matches. I'm proud of their hustle and their aggressiveness; we really didn't hold back.”
Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) and Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) lost 19-21, 15-21 in the No. 1 doubles to LMU's Betsi Metter and Sarah Sponcil.
Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) and Sydney Haynes (So., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) picked up the only win of the match for CSUB against Litara Keil and Taylor Akana at No. 2. The 'Runners went up a set with a 21-16 win, but the Lions fought back to tie the match at 1-1 with a 21-15 second set. In the final set, Haynes and Youngblood came back from being down 11-13 to take the set 17-15 and win the match.
At No. 3 doubles, Sophie Flemion (Jr., San Simeon, Calif., Coast Union HS)and Sara Little (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) fell to Avery Bush and Anne Marie Taylor while Hazel Perrens (Jr., Stavanger, Norway, Louisiana-Monroe) and Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) dropped straight sets against Rachelle Suaava and Hannah Tedrow at No. 4.
Star Tucker-Campbell (Jr., Moorpark, Calif., Moorpark HS) and Luiza Martins (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) pushed Taylor Scioscia and Kristen Castellanos in the first set, but the Lions earned the 22-20 victory. LMU went on to earn the point at No. 5 with a 21-17 second set.
In the No. 6 exhibition match, Megan Johnson (R-Jr., Sandy, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) and Eryn Riley (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Los Osos HS) picked up a three-set victory over the Lions' Lindsay Carr and Nicky Kevorken, 21-19, 15-21, 15-6.
“I really don't think we have to change much,” said Simko. “There were just a couple of errors here and there and a couple of clutch plays that we didn't capitalize on. We don't need to tweak much. LMU is a very good team and if you have any kind of errors against a team like that, they're probably going to get the edge.”
CSU Bakersfield will conclude its home-season with a tri-dual on Saturday, Mar. 21. The 'Runners will take on Mira Costa College at 10 a.m. before facing Irvine Valley College at 2 p.m. here in Bakersfield. For complete results from today's match, see the linked box score.
~GoRunners.com~
