BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The final week of the regular season has arrived for the CSU Bakersfield volleyball team. Despite the preseason prediction of CSUB finishing ninth of eleven teams in the Big West Conference Coaches Poll, the Roadrunners are locked in a battle for a spot in the Top 3 of the league standings with two matches remaining.

Entering this week, the `Runners (17-9, 10-8 BWC) sit in fourth place with CSUB just one game behind Cal Poly (13-16, 11-7 BWC). Bakersfield holds a one-match lead on UC Irvine (16-12, 9-9 BWC), one of CSUB's opponents on the week.

After celebrating Senior Night and their final home match last weekend, the `Runners will head back out on the road to close out the regular season with two more matches. On Friday, Nov. 26, Bakersfield will visit UC San Diego (10-19, 7-11 BWC) before taking on UC Irvine the following night.

"We're at the last two games of the season and it will be another dog fight," said Giovana Melo, Bakersfield's Director of Volleyball. "It all comes down to these last two games for every team in this conference. That is when you know you are playing in a very competitive conference. Our first season in the Big West has been fun. I can't believe it is almost over, but I am excited to watch our team go to battle this weekend."

The `Runners bested both of this week's opponents during the first round of Big West matches. Just over a month ago, the Anteaters came to the Icardo Center and Bakersfield came back from a 2-0 deficit to take a five-set victory over UCI. The follow night, CSUB swept UCSD in straight sets in the Valley Strong Court.

Both of this week's road matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. (PT) first serves and both will be streamed live on ESPN+. For links to broadcasts, live stats, tickets, and more, visit GoRunners.com/Live.

~GoRunners.com~