NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield beach volleyball team dropped a pair of matches against host CSU Northridge and No. 7 Long Beach State Sunday.
 
"Although today was a tough day for us in terms of results, we could see some improvements in our team," said beach volleyball head coach Cesar Benatti. "We could've been a little more disciplined and aggressive, but we also executed good things and competed well."
 
The Roadrunners lost 1-4 to CSUN (2-1) in the opener. In the fourth flight, the Matadors got on the board first when Erin Indermill and Daniella Mollinari earned a straight-sets victory over Briannah Mariner and Sidney Wicks (10-21, 12-21). CSU Northridge took a 2-0 advantage at No. 2 as Kristy Markle and Nickeisha Williams defeated Desiree Sukhov and Sarah Garrow 17-21, 18-21.
 
The 'Runners responded with a straight-sets win of their own in the third flight to cut the deficit in half midway through the match. Mattison Degarmo and Emily Lopes defeated Lauren McMurray and Autumn Russell 21-19 in both sets.
 
The Matadors clinched the match when Katie Sato and Aeryn Owens edged Sydney Haynes and Emily Hansen 21-23 in the first set and 16-23 in the second. Nicolette Pinkney and Lauren Conati defeated Hannah Manzanares and Aleksandra Djordjevi in three sets. The pair fell 15-21 in the first set before rallying back for a 21-17 victory in the second. CSUN took secured the 4-1 victory after the duo dropped a tight 13-15 decision in the final set.
 
CSUB dropped a 0-5 decision to No. 7 Long Beach State (2-0) in their final match of the day. The 49ers recorded the first point of the dual when the No. 5 pair fell 7-21 and 11-21. At No. 3, the 'Runner duo lost both sets (11-21, 10-21). Long Beach State's fourth flight clinched the dual in a 12-21, 8-21 straight-sets victory. The 'Runners were swept in the first and second flights to finish the dual.
 
"We just have to trust the process," said Benatti. "Keep working to learn the game, get better on the things that we still struggle with and better results will come."
 
The Roadrunners drop to 1-3 on the year with two of the three losses coming to nationally ranked opponents. The 'Runners continue their 2018 spring campaign next week as they host Mira Costa College and Vangard in a dual Saturday.