BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield split a pair of sand volleyball duals against nationally ranked opponents Thursday at USC.
Playing in front of a nationally televised audience on the Pac-12 Networks, the No. 1 Women of Troy (9-0) defeated the Roadrunners 5-0 to begin the day. USC earned straight set victories in all five matches. CSUB was victorious in the exhibition match against the Women of Troy.
Eryn Riley (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Los Osos HS) and Megan Johnson (R-Jr., Sandy, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) defeated Marielle Bagnard and Lorna Brandt in three sets, 22-20, 17-21, 15-9. USC is ranked first in both the AVCA Top 10 and the Dig Magazine Top 20 poll.
In the nightcap, CSUB defeated Saint Mary's (3-6) 3-2. The Gaels are ranked 18th in the Dig Magazine poll and it is the first time that the Roadrunners have defeated a ranked opponent in the 2+ year history of the CSUB sand volleyball program.
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 to get the first CSUB point. Hazel Perrens (Jr., Stavanger, Norway, Louisiana-Monroe) and Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) earned a three-set victory at No. 4 to put the Roadrunners up 2-0 after the first flight.
The final three matches all went to three sets. Sophie Flemion (Jr., San Simeon, Calif., Coast Union HS) and Sara Little (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) dropped the opening set at No. 3 to SMC's Milena Popvic and Clare Powers 21-12. Flemion and Little tied the match with a 21-19 second set victory before clinching the dual win with a 15-9 win in set three.
Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) and Sydney Haynes (So., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) lost 21-13 to Mary Hernandez and Alexis Salmons to begin the No. 2 match. Youngblood and Haynes would win 21-17 in the second set before losing 15-11 in the third.
Dalas Dodd and Samantha Tinsley defeated Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) and Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) 2-1 (22-20, 22-24, 15-12) at No. 1 to wrap up the dual.
"Our team played tough and I'm so thrilled to see them have so much success," said CSUB head coach Olivia Simko. "It's always fun to play high level teams like USC and Saint Mary's. Our team is a tight group and they continue to get better everyday."
The Roadrunners (7-3) travel to Santa Cruz for the SCU/USF Collegiate Sand Volleyball Challenge this weekend. CSUB plays No. 2 Hawai'i (9 a.m.) and San Francisco (11 a.m.) on Saturday. The other pool consists of California, Cal Poly, and Santa Clara. Pool play will determine first place, third place, and fifth place. The championship session begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The meet continues Sunday with a pairs tournament that gets underway at 9 a.m.
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