PHOENIX, Ariz.—CSU Bakersfield defeated Grand Canyon 3-2 in the Western Athletic Conference volleyball opener for both schools Saturday afternoon.

"We had contributions from everybody today, and we fought to the end," said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo.

With the score tied for the ninth time at 12-12 in the first set, the Roadrunners sped to a 6-1 run that would propel CSUB to a 25-19 victory. Roadrunner setter Luiza Martins posted 14 assists and five digs during the opening frame.

The Antelopes began the second set by jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Led by Sydney Haynes, who recorded three consecutive kills, the Roadrunners closed to 8-7. A pair of CSUB hitting errors pushed the 'Lopes lead back to three before a Kortney Freeland kill returned the serve to the Roadrunners.  GCU scored four of the next five before an Edithza Urias kill got the Roadrunners back on serve. CSUB went back to Haynes who responded with back-to-back kills to make it 14-12.

A Roadrunner service error and an attack error extended the GCU lead to four. CSUB got back into the match with consecutive kills from Carol Grasso and Martins, forcing an Antelopes timeout. The teams again exchanged the next four points out of the break. A Haynes service ace reduced the GCU lead to one. The Antelopes would post three straight kills to advance the lead to 21-17. The Roadrunners called timeout, scoring two of the next three points, but a CSUB attack error put GCU on serve.

Urias would tally back-to-back kills that made it 23-22 as Grand Canyon called timeout.  Megan Byrnes gave GCU three set points with a kill out of the timeout. The Roadrunners blocked Jordyn Sanchez on the ensuing attack. GCU went back to Sanchez and she gave the Antelopes a 25-23 set victory with a kill. Grand Canyon did not commit an attack error in the second set.

The Roadrunners took a 4-2 lead to begin the third set. Grand Canyon responded with a 4-2 run of their own to tie the match. CSUB and GCU exchanged the next four points. At 8-8, Sawyer's kill sparked a CSUB rally that saw the Roadrunners earn the six of the next seven points to earn a 14-9 advantage.

Grand Canyon chipped away at the lead, scoring four of the next five. CSUB cut the advance off by putting up the next two for a five-point lead. The Antelopes called timeout and used the break to regroup and post the next three points. The Roadrunners called timeout and responded with back-to-back kills. The teams would exchange the next four points to keep CSU Bakersfield ahead by four.  CSUB called the next two offensive sets for Sawyer who registered kills for six set points. GCU staved off one before Freeland's kill made it 25-19 in favor of the Roadrunners.

The teams began the fourth set by playing to seven ties. At 7-7, Grand Canyon mounted a 5-2 charge that resulted in a CSUB timeout.  The Antelopes continued to push ahead, taking an 18-12 advantage.  The Roadrunners battled back, earning five in a row to cut the lead to one.  Natalie Tardy ended the run with a kill but a GCU service error put the ball back into the hands of the Roadrunners.  CSUB committed an attack error to provide Grand Canyon with a 20-18 lead.

After a Tardy attack error, Sawyer's 20th kill of the match tied the score at 20. After a Grand Canyon timeout, Megan Byrnes broke the tie with a kill. Sawyer responded with a kill of her own. Byrnes' kill returned the lead to GCU. Grasso followed with back-to-back kills for CSUB. With the Roadrunners leading 23-22, Sanchez tied it again with a kill before a CSUB hitting error made it 24-23 in favor of GCU. Grasso tied it at 24 with her 16th kill. The Roadrunners committed a hitting error that gave the Antelopes a second set point.  Gracie Dimond sent the match to a fifth set with a kill as Grand Canyon won the set 26-24.

Haynes' 16th kill of the match began the fifth set.  The Antelopes scored the next three points which resulted in a CSUB timeout. A Sawyer kill was followed by a Jordyn Sanchez kill. With GCU leading 4-2, Edithza Urias scored for the Roadrunners with her 14th kill of the day. A CSUB attack error again gave the Antelopes a two-point advantage.

Urias' kill earned CSUB the serve. Haynes and Urias blocked Sanchez to tie the set at five. CSUB took the lead on consecutive Grasso kills. Grand Canyon called timeout. Haynes and Urias combined again to block Sanchez to make it 8-5. Sanchez worked through the CSUB defense for a kill which was followed by a CSUB attack error. At 8-7, Sanchez committed a service error for the Antelopes. CSUB went ahead 10-7 when Haynes put the ball down.

GCU called their final timeout.  Urias came out of the break with a service ace for a four-point CSUB advantage. The teams each committed service errors to keep the Roadrunners up four. Sanchez went for her 15th kill of the day to reduce the Roadrunner lead. A Sawyer kill was followed by a CSUB attack error.

Grand Canyon served down by three but Martins went on two to provide the Roadrunners four match points. Sanchez blocked Urias at the net to keep the Antelopes alive but Sawyer gave CSUB a 15-11 victory with her match high 24th kill.

The Roadrunners matched the school Division I record (set Oct. 13, 2007 against Utah Valley) for most kills in a match with 83.

Martins and Grasso both recorded double-doubles. Martins had 64 assists and a career high 24 digs. Martins' 64 assists are the most by a WAC player in a match this season and are the third most in a match by a CSUB player at the Division I level.

Grasso had 18 kills and 29 digs. Haynes registered 17 kills and a career high seven blocks. Urias charted 15 kills and six blocks. Jocelyn Rodriguez tallied a season best 25 digs while Sophie Flemion posted a career high 16 digs.

As a team, CSUB (3-10) recorded 71 assists, 109 digs, and 211 total attempts, all of which are the second most for the Roadrunners in a match at the Division I level. CSUB's dig total is the most in a match this season by a WAC team.

Byrnes led GCU (2-11) with 18 kills. She hit .378 for the match (18-1-45). Sanchez ended the day with a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs. Hayley Glass tallied a team high 19 digs for the Antelopes. Emily Vitel added 18 digs while Tardy had 10 digs and eight kills.

"I am happy with the way we played today," Melo said. "We got a little bit better today."

CSUB continues WAC play Thursday night at Utah Valley. First serve is set for 7 p.m. (MDT). The Roadrunners will open the home portion of the 2015 slate on Oct. 8 when CSUB hosts UTRGV at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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