BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— CSU Bakersfield tied the school Division I record for consecutive victories as the Roadrunners swept UMKC Saturday afternoon in the Icardo Center. The six wins in a row ties the record which was established during the 2013 season.

The Roadrunners jumped out to a 6-1 advantage and would lead by as many six before a 7-1 UMKC run tied the match at 18. CSUB would push the lead to 24-22 before the 'Roos staved off two set points to tied it a 24. The Roadrunners earned a third set point with a Sydney Haynes kill. CSUB took the set when Carol Grasso, CSU Bakersfield's 5-6 outside hitter recorded a solo block on a Madison Mosier hitting attempt.

With the score 10-9 in favor of the Roadrunners in the second set, a CSUB 8-1 scoring spurt propelled the 'Runners to a 25-16 victory. CSUB recorded four team blocks in the second as the Roadrunners limited UMKC to .062 hitting.

The third set featured seven ties and saw the Kangaroos take the lead for the first time at 8-6 and 9-8. With the Roadrunners up 17-16, CSUB wrapped up the match with an 8-2 run that the final 25-18. The Roadrunners hit .306 in the final set, siding out 61% of the time (11-18).  

The Roadrunners recorded eight team blocks and would limit the Kangaroos to .107 hitting for the match.

Carol Grasso recorded her 13th double-double of the year with a match high 19 kills and 12 digs. She also added three service aces, and at 5-6, two solo blocks. Grasso threw in an assist for good measure. Katie Dunbar-Lowe tallied 10 kills and a .400 hitting percentage (10-2-20). Sophie Flemion led the 'Runners with 13 digs. Libero Jocelyn Rodriguez added 10. CSUB setter Fabiana Andrade dished out 39 assists.

UMKC setter Katlyn Brandt registered a double-double of 24 assists and 12 digs. The Roadrunner defense stymied the WAC's leading hitter, the Kangaroos' Emma Hagedorn. Hagedorn only put up eight kills and was 201 points below her hitting average for the season at .250 (8-2-20).

“I thought we played tough and executed our game plan,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo. “UMKC didn't play as well as they had previously, but we were able to take UMKC out of their system and were able to make things easier on ourselves.”

CSU Bakersfield maintains its grip on second place in the Western Athletic Conference as the 'Runners improved to 9-3 (12-13 overall). CSUB travels to sixth place Seattle U (12-13, 5-6 WAC) and third place Utah Valley (13-13, 8-4 WAC) next week to conclude the regular season. NM State has clinched the regular season title (21-6, 11-1 WAC) as well as the No. 1 seed for the Nov. 17-19 WAC Tournament in Las Cruces. If the Roadrunners can keep second, CSUB would receive a first round bye.

“We are gaining confidence and getting better each day as we head into final weeks of the season,” Melo said.

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