BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The CSU Bakersfield sand volleyball team opened the 2015 season Saturday with a pair of victories over CSUN and Cal Poly Saturday afternoon.
“It was awesome to come out and win on the first hot day here in Bakersfield,” said CSUB head coach Olivia Simko. “We overcame a lot of trouble and were able to compete.”
In the opener, CSUB defeated CSUN 4-1. The Roadrunners' No. 1 pair of Mariah Alvidrez (R-Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) and Molly O'Hagan (Sr., Tonganoxie, Kan., Tonganoxie HS) had to go to three sets, but the duo defeated CSUN's Casey Hinger and Kelcie Randazzo 15-9 in the final set to win 2-1.
The No. 2 pair for the Roadrunners; Danika Youngblood (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Nebraska CC) and Sydney Haynes (So., Vancouver, Wash., Evergreen HS) also had to go to three sets against Mahina Haina and Katie Sato, but a 15-10 victory in set three for the 'Runner duo earned the team point for CSUB.
Sophie Flemion (Jr., San Simeon, Calif., Coast Union HS) and Sara Little (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) swept Julie Haake and Nicolette Pinkey at No. 3 while Hazel Perrens (Jr., Stavanger, Norway, Louisiana-Monroe) and Kelsee Sawyer (Jr., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) earned a straight sets victory in the No. 4 slot. The Matadors earned their lone victory at No. 5 when Nada Dragovic and Alla Casino defeated Star Tucker-Campbell (Jr., Moorpark, Calif., Moorpark HS) and Luiza Martins (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Western Nebraska CC) 2-0.
“It was tough as both the No. 1 and No. 2 pairs went to three sets at the same time,” Simko said. “The team learned about themselves and overcame the nerves that come with opening day.”
The day concluded with a 3-2 victory over Cal Poly for the Roadrunners. The Mustangs and the Roadrunners split the first two matches of dual with the Mustangs winning at No. 4 and Eryn Riley (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Los Osos HS) and Megan Johnson (R-Jr., Sandy Utah, Western Nebraska CC) taking the win for CSUB at No. 5.
The team again split as Cal Poly won the No. 2 dual while Flemino and Little won at No. 3. The match came down to No. 1 where the Mustangs' Taylor Nelson and Raeann Greisen took the opening set 22-20 over Alvidrez and O'Hagan. The CSUB pair won set two by a 21-16 count before securing the sweep with a 15-9 win in set three.
“Cal Poly is a great program,” Simko said. “It was fun to have them out here and be able to defeat them.”
CSUB travels to the USAV Beach Collegiate Challenge Mar. 14-15 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. The Roadrunners play a first year program in TCU at 9 a.m. on Saturday before taking on No. 4 Hawai'i at 11 a.m. The single elimination pairs tournament begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday with the first round. The pairs' tournament concludes Sunday beginning at 9 a.m.
CSU Bakersfield returns to the Student Recreation Center Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex Mar. 20 when the Roadrunners host Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m. 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.
~www.GoRunners.com~
