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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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KristaHernandez4
Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
2
Utah Valley UVU 8-9, 0-4 WAC
3
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 10-6, 3-0 WAC
Utah Valley UVU
8-9, 0-4 WAC
2
Final
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CSU Bakersfield CSUB
10-6, 3-0 WAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Utah Valley UVU 23 23 26 25 14 (2)
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 25 25 24 21 16 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

CSUB Outlasts UVU, Stays Perfect In WAC, Wins 7th Straight

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's volleyball team was on the brink of losing its perfect home record, its perfect start to Western Athletic Conference play, and its six-match losing streak. Trailing Utah Valley 8-3 in the fifth set and then later 14-13, the Roadrunners rallied to clinch the match 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 21-25, 16-14) in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, CSUB improved to 7-0 in the Icardo Center this year. The `Runners also remained tied for the WAC lead with a spotless, 3-0 record. With its seventh-straight victory, no squad in CSUB's Division I history has won more consecutive matches than the 2018 edition of the `Runners and the last time Bakersfield put together a longer streak was a nine-match run in 2003.
A 7-1 run in the first set pushed CSUB ahead of UVU, 16-11. The Wolverines rallied back to trail by just one point at 20-19. Bakersfield got back-to-back kills from Milica Vukobrat and Emily Hansen to go up 22-19. CSUB then earned set point at 24-23 and Brooke Boiseau sent a free ball straight down to seal the first-game victory.

The second set was the tightest of the match as the two teams found themselves tied 14 times. A 3-0 run gave CSUB a 20-18 advantage, but UVU tied the score at 20-20. Trailing 23-22, the `Runners won back-to-back points before finishing the game off on a kill by senior Mattison DeGarmo.

In another tightly contested set, CSUB found itself trailing 23-17 in Game 3, but a 5-0 run pulled the `Runners right back in. Down 25-24, Utah Valley's ninth block of the set earned the Wolverines their first game of the match.

UVU sprinted out in Set 4, but the `Runners never let the Wolverines get ahead by more than just a few points. CSUB got as close as two points at 21-19, but the Wolverines went on a 3-0 run to give themselves four set points. The `Runners rallied for a pair of points, but eventually fell 25-21, sending the match to the deciding game.

The Wolverines jumped out quickly again to take a 6-2 lead on the `Runners in Set 5. The two teams switched sides with the visitor leading 8-3, but CSUB rattled off five-straight points to tie the game. The score was tied again at nine, 10, 11, 13, and 14 points. An attack error by UVU gave CSUB match point and DeGarmo punished a free ball straight to the floor, sealing the set 16-14 and the match 3-2.

The fifth set featured a pair of `Runners coming off the bench to perform well in the clutch. Junior Rafa Bonifacio served CSUB to a 4-0 run in the middle of the set before substituting out for freshman Hayley McCluskey. As she was against NM State, McCluskey was clutch, recording four kills in the final set including kills that tied the score at 13-13 and 14-14.

Sophomore Desiree Sukhov tallied 17 kills on the day, tying the season-high for all `Runners. The kills total was a new career-high for CSUB's outside hitter, who also tacked on 11 digs for her fourth-straight double-double. Senior Briannah Mariner added 13 kills and four blocks against UVU.

DeGarmo, a native of Castle Rock, Wyo., did a little bit of everything for the `Runners. The middle blocker had eight kills, two assists, two aces, four blocks, and one dig against the Wolverines. Sophomore Krista Hernandez's 37 digs reset CSUB's Division I five-set match record while the libero also added a career-high five assists on Saturday.

Bakersfield (10-6, 3-0 WAC) must now leave the comfort of the Icardo Center for one road match. The `Runners will travel to Riverside, Calif. next week to take on the newest WAC member, California Baptist. After Saturday's matchup with the Lancers, CSUB will return home for a Monday meeting with Seattle U.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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