`Runners to Host Vanguard and CSUN for Senior Day

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield beach volleyball team will wrap up its 2018 home schedule tomorrow at the Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex at the Student Rec Center. The Roadrunners will host Vanguard University at 10:00 a.m. and CSUN at 2:00 p.m. and will hold Senior Day ceremonies for Emily Lopes, Sydney Haynes and Aleksandra Djordjevic prior to competition.

Saturday will be the last regular season matches in the careers of a trio of seniors, including the most decorated player in the history of the CSUB beach volleyball program. Sydney Haynes has racked up 41 career victories in her four seasons, the most in program history and her 13 victories as a freshman are tied for the most in single-season history.

Emily Lopes has nine wins in her two seasons on the beach team, including eight this season. In her first season of beach competition, Aleksandra Djordjevic has five wins, three of which have come at the No. 3 position.

"These three young ladies have been the base of our program for the last two years, not only for beach volleyball but for indoor as well," said CSUB head coach Cesar Benatti. "The impact that their leadership and values made on the team is going to last forever, and we couldn't be more thankful and proud of them."

CSUB (5-15) will start off the day against Vanguard (3-15). The `Runners have swept the Lions twice already this season and will look for a third straight win over them in 2018. Vanguard will play two matches on Friday against Cal Poly and Feather River College before coming to Bakersfield. Last Friday, the Lions beat Benedictine University at Mesa 5-0 and Hope International University 4-1.

In the second match of the day, the `Runners will square off with CSUN (15-6) for the fourth time this spring. CSUB has lost their first match against the Matadors 4-1, but were defeated just 3-2 in the subsequent two matches. The `Runners nearly pulled off the upset in the second meeting on March 30 as Briannah Mariner and Djordjevic were defeated in three sets, in what turned out to be the closest match of the day. Yesterday, the Matadors swept Cal State Los Angeles.

"We are very excited and ready for our last home competition," said Benatti. "It's been a year of ups and downs, however every time we play at home we perform well."

Saturday will be the final tune-up for CSUB before they head to the Big West Championship next weekend.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Aleksandra Djordjevic: 6' 0"; Senior

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

#3 Emily Lopes: 5' 7"; Senior

#50 Briannah Mariner: 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#14 Aleksandra Djordjevic
: 6' 0"; Senior

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

#3 Emily Lopes
: 5' 7"; Senior

#50 Briannah Mariner
: 5' 10"; Junior