Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Utah Valley rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat CSU Bakersfield 3-2 in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action Thursday night.
Powered by a 13-0 run midway through the opening set, the Roadrunners took the opener by a 25-9 count. The nine points are the fewest CSUB has allowed in a set since moving to the Division I level (the seventh time in 7+ years). 12 of the 13 points on the run came on the serve of CSUB setter Fabiana Andrade.
Utah Valley (8-11, 4-2 WAC) battled back from being down 23-19 in the second set to tie the match 26-24. UVU controlled the net in the second, scoring three of their final four points via a solo or block assist.
With CSUB leading 22-19 in the third set, Utah Valley's Kiahna Nelson was awarded a kill which the 'Runner coaching staff disputed. As a result of the interaction between the bench and the referees, CSUB was issued a red card with UVU being awarded a point to make it 22-21. A Roadrunner hitting error tied the match before Carol Grasso returned the lead to CSUB with a kill. Grasso earned a set point with a kill as UVU called timeout. A 'Runner hitting error along with a Lexi Thompson kill tied the set at 24. Andrade went on two for a kill for a second CSUB set point. The Roadrunners took the set when Kelcee Munk was called for a bad set.
The fourth set featured seven ties and five lead changes. At 22-22, Madison Dennison's kill put the Wolverines ahead. A CSUB hitting error resulted in a Utah Valley set point. CSUB stayed alive on a Wolverine hitting error before an Alexis Davies' kill sent the match to the fifth set. Utah Valley scored seven of the first eight points of the deciding frame. The Roadrunners would get as close as 9-5 before The Wolverines pulled away and won the final set 15-7.
Grasso posted her ninth double-double of the year, the fourth most in the WAC. She had 17 kills and 22 digs. Grasso also added four aces and two blocks. Andrade earned her third double-double of the season with 40 assists and 14 digs. Kortney Freeland tallied a career high 14 kills. Jocelyn Rodriguez tied her career high with 25 digs.
Thompson paced UVU with 17 kills. Kelcee Monk, the Utah Valley setter registered a double-double of 44 assists and 10 digs. Davies had 12 kills.
“We weren't turning it on in the times we needed to turn it on,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo. “I think we have to figure out our serving game and become more consistent from one game to another.
The Roadrunners (6-13, 3-3 WAC) host Seattle U (9-10, 2-4 WAC) Saturday at 1 p.m. The match will be streamed on the WAC Digital Network.
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