`Runners Look to Continue Winning Ways

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – After earning victories over MiraCosta College and Vanguard University last weekend, the CSU Bakersfield beach volleyball team looks to continue its success on Friday when they head to Irvine, Calif. to take on Irvine Valley College and Missouri State University.

The `Runners (2-3) will open the day with the Bears of Missouri State at 12:00 p.m. The Bears (4-3) are in their first year of competition in beach volleyball and are in the midst of a 11-match road trip in The Golden State. Missouri State opened the trip with a loss at Long Beach State on Monday, but have beaten Colorado Mesa University twice, Cal State Los Angeles and Vanguard University since then. It should be a good measuring stick for CSUB, who owns two victories over Vanguard.

CSUB will finish the day with host, Irvine Valley (1-3) at 1:00 p.m. The Lasers are "one of the top junior colleges in California", according to `Runner head coach Cesar Benatti. Irvine Valley has struggled to begin the season and was swept by nationally-ranked programs University of Arizona and Long Beach State on Mar. 6.

"We've been working hard on some aspects of the game like serve and pass calls, and we hope to see that in action," said Benatti.

The `Runners have already shown plenty of improvement this spring and need just one more victory to tie last season's total.

Mattison DeGarmo and Emily Lopes have been CSUB's most successful tandem so far this season, as they have a 3-2 record while splitting time between the No. 2 and No. 3 pairs. DeGarmo and Lopes were the only pair to earn a victory against CSUN back on Mar. 4. The Matadors are now receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll.

Emily Hansen and Sydney Haynes also have two victories at the top spot, while Sidney Wicks and Hannah Manzanares have a win at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Sarah Garrow has added tallies in the win column at the No. 3 position with Briannah Mariner and at No. 2 with Desiree Sukhov.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo: 6' 3"; Junior

#11 Sarah Garrow: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Sydney Haynes: 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#3 Emily Lopes: 5' 7"; Senior

#1 Hannah Manzanares: 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Sidney Wicks: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#44 Desiree Sukhov: 6' 0"; Freshman

#50 Briannah Mariner: 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Emily Hansen: 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo
: 6' 3"; Junior

#11 Sarah Garrow
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Sydney Haynes
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#3 Emily Lopes
: 5' 7"; Senior

#1 Hannah Manzanares
: 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Sidney Wicks
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#44 Desiree Sukhov
: 6' 0"; Freshman

#50 Briannah Mariner
: 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Emily Hansen
: 5' 10"; Freshman