`Runners Play Two Matches At Home For A Chance To Win Co-WAC Regular Season Champions

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - CSU Bakersfield women's volleyball team will be at home for their final two regular season matches hosting UTRGV and New Mexico State. After this past weekend's away match against Grand Canyon, the Roadrunners move to third place in WAC standings and have a chance to be co-regular season champions with a current record of 8-4.

"We are very excited to be playing the last weekend at home," says Giovana Melo, Director of Volleyball at CSUB. "It sure is a big weekend for us as it decides our seeding in the tournament.

The `Runners will face the No. 2 team in the conference, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (9-3) on Thursday evening. UTRGV will come to Bakersfield as being the conference leader in digs per set as a team (16.39). CSUB went 1-3 the last time they met with the Vaqueros at their home and are hoping to be the dominant team this time around. UTRGV is led by senior Dubravka Vikoja (9.81 a/s) and junior Ragni Knudsen (3.62 k/s).

Coach Melo went on to discuss about Saturday's match, "Saturday is senior night so it will be a very emotional weekend for these five seniors who have put so much into this program this year." The five seniors that will be honored are Fabiana Andrade, Aleksandra Djordjevic, Sydney Haynes, Emily Lopes and Haylee Roberts.

As emotional as Saturday's match should be, the `Runners also want to make it a memorable match by beating the No. 1 seed team, New Mexico State. November 11th, will be almost a month the Aggies swept Bakersfield at their home and CSUB are ready for a better battle on Saturday. The New Mexico team is led by seniors Kassandra Tohm (3.45) and Briana Ainsworth (6.21 a/s).

The `Runners know the pressure is on to stay as one of the top contenders to finish with a good record in WAC for the tournament. With the final two matches this weekend CSUB still has a chance of becoming Co-Regular Season WAC Champions. The action-packed weekend starts Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center followed by Saturday's day match beginning at 12 p.m. Bakersfield fans who cannot make the home matches can watch via WAC Digital Network. Link for live stream and video can be located on the volleyball's schedule page.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#1 Fabiana Andrade: S; 5' 7"; Senior

#5 Aleksandra Djordjevic: OH; 6' 0"; Senior

#13 Sydney Haynes: MB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Emily Lopes: L; 5' 7"; Senior

#11 Haylee Roberts: MB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 Fabiana Andrade
: 5' 7"; Senior
: S

#5 Aleksandra Djordjevic
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH

#13 Sydney Haynes
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: MB

#3 Emily Lopes
: 5' 7"; Senior
: L

#11 Haylee Roberts
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: MB