BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield swept a pair of matches in the 2015 home finale for the Roadrunners at the Student Recreation Center Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Roadrunners defeated Mira Costa College 5-0 in the opener. All five CSUB teams; Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) and Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) at No. 1, Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) and Sydney Haynes (So., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) at No. 2, Sophie Flemion (Jr., San Simeon, Calif., Coast Union HS) and Sara Little (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) at No. 3, Hazel Perrens (Jr., Stavanger, Norway, Louisiana-Monroe) and Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) at No. 4, and Star Tucker-Campbell (Jr., Moorpark, Calif., Moorpark HS) and Luiza Martins (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) at No. 5 won in straight sets.
“This is Mira Costa's first year playing sand volleyball, but they have a good indoor program,” said CSUB head coach Olivia Simko. “We executed on everything we needed to do to get the win.”
CSU Bakersfield defeated Irvine Valley College 4-1 in the nightcap. The Lasers' Sam Holdredge and Kayla Scheevel gave IVC a 1-0 lead after winning in straight sets at No. 4. Tucker-Campbell and Martins rallied from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and even up the dual.
Flemion and Little won in straight sets at No. 3 to give CSUB the lead. Alvidrez and O'Hagan clinched the dual victory with a straight sets victory in the No. 1 match. At No. 2, Haynes and Youngblood won the first set 21-14 before IVC's Annie Mitchem and Emily Reinking earned a 24-22 second set victory. Haynes and Youngblood won 15-11 in the third set to wrap up the day.
“I really made sure our team knew how strong IVC and that we should not take them lightly,” Simko said. “We came out and were ready for a tough match.”
The Lasers defeated Mira Mesa 5-0 in the middle dual of the day.
The CSUB Student Recreation Center was opened in 2009 and is the center of student interaction and wellness at CSU Bakersfield. The $24 million facility houses over 75,000 square feet of both exercise equipment and other spaces for fitness, education and recreation for CSUB students, faculty and staff. In 2012, the SRC, CSUB Athletics, along with donors Steve and Lori Barnes partnered to build the sand courts, home of 'Runners Sand Volleyball and a place for students & community members to participate in this emerging and exciting sport.
The Roadrunners (6-2) return to action Thursday when the Roadrunners travel to USC for a tri-dual. The day begins for CSUB with a 3 p.m. match against the No. 3 Women of Troy. That match will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. USC plays Saint Mary's at 4:30 p.m. (also on the Pac-12 Networks) before the 'Runners take on the Gaels at 6 p.m.
~www.GoRunners.com~
