BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Carol Grasso nearly turned in a triple double for CSU Bakersfield, but NM State would hand the Roadrunners a 3-0 loss in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action Thursday night.

The first set featured 10 ties and four lead changes. At 24-24, NMSU's Megan Hart and Kassandra Tohm blocked an Aleksandra Djordjevic hitting attempt for set point. The Aggies went back to Tohm on the ensuing offensive attack and her first kill of the match gave NM State the first set victory.

With the score tied at six early in the second, the Aggies' 3-0 charge provided a 9-6 advantage. The Roadrunners rallied, going on a 6-1 spurt to take a two-point lead. With the score tied at 18, the Aggies used their height advantage at the net to pull ahead. Three of the next five points scored by NM State came via blocks from 6-5 Megan Hart. NMSU would win the set 25-20.

Trailing 10-8 in the third set, three consecutive service aces from Grasso powered a 6-1 Roadrunner run and a 14-11 lead. NMSU would continue to stymie the 'Runners at the net, recording two more team blocks and outscoring CSUB 14-5 for the remainder of the final set. NMSU's 25-19 set win would complete the sweep.

Grasso broke the CSUB Division I school record for most service aces in a match with seven. The old mark was six, set by Kayla Williamson against UT Rio Grande Valley Nov. 14, 2008.  Grasso's seven aces tied the overall Roadrunner Division I mark for most service aces in a Division I match. Sarah Norman had seven aces in a five-set match at Houston Sept. 5, 2007.  In addition to her aces, Grasso led the Roadrunners with 11 kills and nine digs. She also added two assists.

Jordan Abalos and Tatyana Battle each posted 11 kills to lead the Aggies. Hart would end up with a match high eight blocks to go along with her five kills.  NMSU registered nine team blocks compared to six for CSUB.

“We didn't play well today,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo. “We didn't compete as well as we have been lately.”

The Roadrunners return home Saturday when CSUB hosts UT Rio Grande Valley at 1 p.m.