David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography

Beach Volleyball March 27, 2021

`Runners Down CSUN to End Big West Challenge

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Closing out a taxing weekend while facing some of the best beach volleyball programs in the country, CSU Bakersfield wrapped up the Big West Challenge with a split of its final two matches. The Roadrunners fought to take one team point before falling to No. 10 Hawai'i, the team's third nationally-ranked opponent of the tournament, then CSUB finished the weekend with a victory over CSUN.

"Overall, we're really team-focused and not pair-focused." said Cesar Benatti, Head Coach of the `Runners. "That's the first time in a long time that we took a point from Hawai'i. That really pumped us up for the game with CSUN."

Benatti and Assistant Coach Stevi Robinson decided to shake things up in CSUB's final match, swapping teammates in their 4s and 5s pairs. The adjustment worked for the `Runners, who came out on top against the Matadors, 3-2.

"CSUN has been a tough opponent for us for the last few years," Benatti said. "It was definitely a good change because we won both of those matches. It gave us more stability and we felt it was the best move to help the team overall."

Benatti wrapped up his thoughts on the weekend as a whole: "Our overall goal is just to continue to get better. This weekend, we definitely got better and grew as a team. Now we know what we need to do to continue to improve and to fight with these teams in the Big West Tournament."

#10 Hawai'i 4, CSUB 1

Milica Vukobrat and Cameron Solberg continued their winning ways, picking up their third-straight victory in a five-set battle against Hawai'i. Reunited as the No. 5 pair, Jazleigh Ortiz and Seleisa Elisaia pushed the Rainbow Wahine to the third set, but UH came out on top in another close game.

Against the perennial power of Hawai'i, CSUB has not had much success in the past. Bakersfield took its first team point against UH since the two programs' first-ever meeting back in 2014.

1. Brooke Van Sickle/Amber Igiede (UH) def. Emily Hansen/Hana Makonova (CSUB) 21-14, 21-13
2. Cameron Solberg/Milica Vukobrat (CSUB) def. Harlee Kekauoha/Lea Kruse (UH) 21-11, 14-21, 15-11
3. Jaime Santer/Pani Napoleon (UH) def. Anna Unke/Brooke Boiseau (CSUB) 21-6, 21-9
4. Kaylee Glagau/Ilihia Huddleston (UH) def. Alaina Gendale/Hayley McCluskey (CSUB) 21-16, 21-8
5. Sofia Russo/Anna Maidment (UH) def. Jazleigh Ortiz/Seleisa Elisaia (CSUB) 21-5, 18-21, 15-6

CSUB 3, CSUN 2

Solberg and Vukobrat took care of business against CSUN and wrapped up the weekend with a 4-1 record. Mapuhola Sekona moved up to join Hayley McCluskey in the No. 4 pairing and the `Runners cruised to a victory over their CSUN counterparts. Alaina Gendale moved down to the 5s with Elisaia and the pair edged the Matadors in a thriller, clinching the match for Bakersfield.

1. Meagan Carter/Lauren Eknoian (CSUN) def. Emily Hansen/Hana Makonova (CSUB) 12-21, 21-19, 18-16
2. Milica Vukobrat/Cameron Solberg (CSUB) def. Lexi McLeod/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) 21-16, 21-19
3. Darbi Honeycutt/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN) def. Brooke Boiseau/Anna Unke (CSUB) 21-17, 21-13
4. Hayley McCluskey/Mapuhola Sekona (CSUB) def. Lauren McMurray/Kailey Klein (CSUN) 21-12, 21-15
5. Seleisa Elisaia/Alaina Gendale (CSUB) def. Emily Sparks/True McCullough (CSUN) 22-20, 25-23

Next Week

The `Runners (2-6) are headed home for a quiet period of training and improvement. CSUB will return to action on Apr. 9 when Concordia Irvine travels to Bakersfield. The `Runners will host the Eagles at the Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex at the Student Rec Center for a pair of matches with first serve scheduled for 10 a.m. (PT).

As a reminder, CSU Bakersfield has announced that a limited number of select fans will be allowed to attend `Runner home events for the remainder of the spring season. Invited guests will be notified and CSUB students will be emailed in the coming weeks regarding how to RSVP for the limited number of student tickets.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau: 6' 1"; Junior

#1 Seleisa Elisaia: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#13 Emily Hansen: 5' 10"; Junior

#22 Hana Makonova: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#23 Hayley McCluskey: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#11 Jazleigh Ortiz: 5' 8"; Senior

#3 Cameron Solberg: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#25 Milica Vukobrat: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#15 Mapuhola Sekona: 5' 9"; Junior

Alaina Gendale: 5' 8"; Junior

Anna Unke: 5' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau
: 6' 1"; Junior

#1 Seleisa Elisaia
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#13 Emily Hansen
: 5' 10"; Junior

#22 Hana Makonova
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#23 Hayley McCluskey
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#11 Jazleigh Ortiz
: 5' 8"; Senior

#3 Cameron Solberg
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#25 Milica Vukobrat
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#15 Mapuhola Sekona
: 5' 9"; Junior

Alaina Gendale
: 5' 8"; Junior

Anna Unke
: 5' 4"; Junior

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

`Runners Down CSUN to End Big West Challenge

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau

#1 Seleisa Elisaia

#13 Emily Hansen

#22 Hana Makonova

#23 Hayley McCluskey

#11 Jazleigh Ortiz

#3 Cameron Solberg

#25 Milica Vukobrat

#15 Mapuhola Sekona

Alaina Gendale

Anna Unke

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau

#1 Seleisa Elisaia

#13 Emily Hansen

#22 Hana Makonova

#23 Hayley McCluskey

#11 Jazleigh Ortiz

#3 Cameron Solberg

#25 Milica Vukobrat

#15 Mapuhola Sekona

Alaina Gendale

Anna Unke