CSUB Brings Home Huskie Invite Crown

Box Score Update: the following Roadrunners were named to the All-Tournament Team - Seleisa Elisaia (MVP), Hayley McCluskey, Brooke Boiseau.

DEKALB, Ill. – A 3-0 sweep over Western Illinois on Saturday wrapped a bow on a perfect weekend for the CSU Bakersfield volleyball team. The Roadrunners earned the title of 2021 Huskie Invitational Champions after going undefeated over all three matches.

"When we are consistent and ready to play the next point, we are really good," said Giovana Melo, Director of Volleyball at CSUB. "Today, we were better than we were yesterday. I thought we passed well and we were able to run our system. All of the hitters were on and I thought we were very balanced today."

Melo continued on to sum up her thoughts on the tournament as a whole: "I'm extremely proud of our effort this weekend. We showed some resiliency. For a team who has been out as long as we have to come out and do that, it was a really fun weekend. I think we have an exciting group of girls and I'm excited to see where we go."

As a team, Bakersfield hit .408 on the match, the squad's best collective hitting effort since posting a .423 clip against Kansas City in 2017. Melo's offense produced four different `Runners with 9+ kills against WIU, including 10 each from Milica Vukobrat, Hayley McCluskey, and Hana Makonova.

A redshirt junior, Makonova went 10-for-12 with just one error (.750) on the match in a highly-efficient performance. Senior setter Seleisa Elisaia continued to be a multifaceted threat, chipping in nine kills, 31 assists, and five digs against the Leathernecks.

After trailing for the majority of the first set, CSUB took over the lead at 16-15 and did not look back. The `Runners created some separation between themselves and the Leathernecks and ultimately finished off a 25-19 victory to take an early lead. A well-balanced offense saw three `Runners with four or more kills in the game as well as two others with two or more kills.

CSUB's momentum rolled right into the second set, growing an 18-7 lead, but WIU responded with a 13-2 run to tie the score at 20-20. CSUB answered with back-to-back kills from Elisaia and Vukobrat and the `Runners won five of the last six points, taking a 2-0 lead on a 25-21 win.

In the third and final set, CSUB built leads at 14-9 and 20-13 before finishing off the sweep with a 25-20 victory. The `Runners (3-0) will return to Bakersfield and begin preparing for the long haul of the 2021 season that remains. CSUB has its eye on the ultimate prize, a run at the Big West Conference title.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau: MB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#1 Seleisa Elisaia: S; 5' 10"; Junior

#11 Hana Makonova: MB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#18 Hayley McCluskey: OH; 6' 0"; Junior

#19 Milica Vukobrat: RS; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: MB

#1 Seleisa Elisaia
: 5' 10"; Junior
: S

#11 Hana Makonova
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MB

#18 Hayley McCluskey
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OH

#19 Milica Vukobrat
: 6' 0"; Junior
: RS