EDINBURG, TX – The CSU Bakersfield volleyball team (12-10, 5-2 WAC) traveled to one of the tougher road courts in the Western Athletic Conference on Saturday afternoon and it was also a battle of first place teams in the WAC.
UTRGV came into the match 11-8 on the season and 5-1 in the WAC, but they were also were 7-0 on their home court. Now they are 8-0.
The `Runners trailed 8-7 early in the first set, but then UTRGV went on a 12-4 run to take control of the set and eventually won the set 25-15. CSUB senior
Fabiana Andrade led the `Runners in assists with five and digs with seven. `Runners senior setter
Emily Lopes also had seven digs.
The second set went very similar to the first. The two teams were tied at 10 before UTRGV went on a run to take control of the set. This time UTRGV went on a 15-2 run to finish the game and win the second set 25-12. At the end of two sets, UTRGV had eight aces to CSUB's one. Andrade had nine assists and nine digs to lead the `Runners after two sets.
Briannah Mariner,
Haylee Roberts and
Sydney Haynes each had three kills each to lead the `Runners.
UTRGV jumped out to a 13-9 lead in the third set, but then had to take a timeout because CSUB reeled off four points in a row to tie it at 13. UTRGV would go on an 8-4 run to take a 21-17 lead, but CSUB battled back to tie the third set at 21 all and eventually won the third set 25-23 to force a fourth set. CSUB finished the third set on an 8-2 run. Mariner put her stamp on the third set by having four kills in the final six points.
UTRGV jumped out to a 7-1 lead to open the fourth set, but once again, the `Runners did not quit. CSUB went on a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 8-6. It was a back and forth battle the rest of the way, but UTRGV would win the fourth set 25-20 and the match.
The `Runners were led in kills by Roberts 13 and Mariner & Haynes each had nine. Andrade led CSUB with 24 assists and Lopes had 27 digs to lead all players.
The `Runners are back in action on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Icardo Center on CSUB's campus.
