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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Mike Rasay/ISI Photos
3
Winner Portland POR 1-0
0
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0-1
Winner
Portland POR
1-0
3
Final
0
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
0-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Portland POR 25 25 25 (3)
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 15 20 12 (0)
3
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 1-1
2
San Diego State SDSU 0-1
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
1-1
3
Final
2
San Diego State SDSU
0-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 25 17 14 25 16 (3)
San Diego State SDSU 19 25 25 23 14 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Dramatic Comeback Gives CSUB Day 1 Split At SDSU Invite

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A slow start in the season opener saw CSU Bakersfield's volleyball team with a 0-1 record, but Friday's second match of the day featured a completely different team of Roadrunners. After dropping a 3-0 decision against Portland, the `Runners rallied for a thrilling, 3-2 victory over San Diego State to cap the first day of competition at the Aztec Invitational.

After CSUB completed an impressive comeback against the tournament's host, Head Coach Giovana Melo had high praises for her squad: "The team battled the entire time with so much heart. That's the team we have been having in practice. We had so many players stepping up and contributing. We definitely have some depth. I am so proud of the way they competed."

Portland 3, CSUB 0

Portland came out swinging in the first set of the tournament. The `Runners found themselves trailing 20-8 and called a timeout to regroup. The pause helped as CSUB was able to put together a 7-1 run down the stretch, but the Pilots closed off the comeback with a 25-15 victory. Redshirt senior Mattison DeGarmo led all `Runners with three kills in the opening game to go with one block.

Set 2 was a scrap with both teams trading points throughout the majority of the game. After a tie score of 14-14, Portland cracked open a bit of breathing room and was able to hold on for a 25-20 win to take a 2-0 lead into the break. DeGarmo, CSUB's middle blocker, continued to lead the way with five kills.

In the final set, the `Runners and Pilots traded blows early, but Portland built as much as a seven-point lead on CSUB at 16-9. Outside hitter Briannah Mariner came on strong to record four kills in the set, but Portland closed out any thoughts of a `Runner rally with a 25-12 victory.

The bright spot of the opening match was CSUB's senior leadership. Mariner and DeGarmo led the `Runners with eight and six kills, respectively. The two seniors gave CSUB the spark they needed, but the `Runners needed their young crop of talent to step up in order to turn the tide.

San Diego State 3, CSUB 2

The first set of Friday's second match featured a revitalized `Runner offense as CSUB jumped out to a large lead over the Aztecs. Bakersfield led by as many as eight points in the opening set on the way to a 25-19 win behind 2+ kills from five different `Runners.

Energized by the home crowd, SDSU answered back to take a 2-1 lead on wins in Set 2 (25-17) and Set 3 (25-14). Unfazed, the `Runners battled point for point with the Aztecs in Set 4. Down 23-22, CSUB got a kill from sophomore Desiree Sukhov followed by back-to-back kills from Mariner to shut the door, 25-23, and force a deciding set.

In the fifth set, the Aztecs jumped out to a 5-2 lead on the `Runners. A kill by freshman Hayley McCluskey and a stuff by DeGarmo helped the `Runners draw within one point. After tie scores at 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7, the `Runners got a kill from sophomore Desiree Sukhov to take an 8-7 lead.

From 9-9, back-to-back SDSU points prompted Coach Melo to call a timeout. The pep talk was effective as CSUB won three of the next four points an eventually took a 13-12 lead and force an Aztec timeout. Tied up at 14 points apiece, freshman setter Leisa Elisaia played a smart dump over the net and caught the SDSU defense off guard to set up a match point opportunity. With CSUB's sixth block of the night DeGarmo and sophomore Emily Hansen sealed the 16-14, Set 5 win and 3-2 match victory.

On the match, three `Runners recorded 10 kills or more while CSUB's well-balanced offense featured five women with at least seven kills. Redshirt freshman Brooke Boiseau posted 10 kills with a .667 attack percentage while Sukhov's 12 kills led all `Runners. Redshirt junior Sidney Wicks tallied 25 assists while Elisaia added 17. Sophomore libero Krista Hernandez notched a career-high 16 digs against SDSU.

Tomorrow

The `Runners (1-1) will return to Peterson Gym in San Diego, Calif. on Saturday for one final match. CSUB will close out the Aztec Invitational against Campbell, which suffered a 3-0 sweep on Friday against Western Athletic Conference member Seattle U. Saturday's match begins at 4:30 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~
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