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October 03, 2019: during the Cal State Bakersfield vs Utah Valley game at Icardo Center, in Bakersfield, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography)
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
3
Winner Grand Canyon GCU 15-4, 5-2 WAC
2
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-12, 2-5 WAC
Winner
Grand Canyon GCU
15-4, 5-2 WAC
3
Final
2
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-12, 2-5 WAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Grand Canyon GCU 25 23 21 25 15 (3)
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 18 25 25 17 13 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Wicks Reaches Milestone, `Runners Fall to GCU

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A hard-fought battle raged inside the Icardo Center as CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon went head-to-head in Thursday Night's Western Athletic Conference volleyball match. The Roadrunners overcame an early deficit to take a 2-1 lead, but the Lopes forced a fifth set and stole the road victory from CSUB on the Kern Schools Court (18-25, 25-23-25-21, 17-25, 13-15).

"I thought we were better today than we were last week," said Giovana Melo, Director of Volleyball at CSUB. "My focus with the team is just to keep getting two percent better. If we do, we can get over this little slump that we're in. We've warned the team from the beginning that anyone in this conference can win any day. We just have to continue to grind and make some adjustments sooner than we did tonight."
 
Several `Runners put together outstanding performances on Thursday, including a career night for redshirt senior Sidney Wicks. The setter posted a career-high 54 assists while surpassing the 2,000 career assist milestone. Wicks became just the 10th `Runner in CSUB's history to reach the milestone and the first since Luiza Martins accomplished the feat in 2015. The native of Aurora, Colo. also added 15 digs for a double-double against the Lopes.

Moving from outside hitter to libero, senior Rafa Bonifacio proved her versatility against the Lopes. The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil tallied a career-high 23 digs and was one of four `Runners to post double digit totals in the category.

Bakersfield's offense was led by a quartet of underclassmen with sophomore Milica Vukobrat posting a career-high 15 kills to go with 12 digs and five blocks. Middle blocker Brooke Boiseau chipped in 13 kills while Hana Makonova and Hayley McCluskey both added 11 kills. Makonova also tied her season-high with seven blocks on the defensive front.

The Lopes jumped out of the gate quickly and took a 25-18 lead in the opening set. With Vukobrat and Boiseau swinging hard, the `Runners were able to stave off GCU's advances in Set 2 and tied the match with a 25-23 win.

Bakersfield's momentum rolled right into the third set as CSUB built a 21-13 lead. The Lopes rallied, but it was too little, too late as the `Runners took the lead in the match with a 25-21 victory. GCU came out swinging again in Set 4 and forced the match to the deciding game with a 25-17 win.

The final set was tight all the way to the end with the score tied 10 times. A GCU attack error gave the `Runners a 13-12 lead, but the Lopes responded with back-to-back-to-back kills to seal the match with a 15-13 win on the road.

With the loss, CSUB dropped to 7-12 overall and 2-5 in WAC play while GCU continued its strong season (15-4, 5-2 WAC). The `Runners have a couple days to prepare for their next match, a Monday-evening affair at California Baptist (9-10, 3-3 WAC). That contest starts a busy week in which Bakersfield will play three matches over six days, including a pair of home matches. First serve on Monday in Riverside, Calif. is set for 7 p.m.
~GoRunners.com~
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