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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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HayleyMcCluskeyHW02
Hannah Walker
3
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 6-1,0-0 Big West
1
Eastern Wash. EWU 3-4,0-0 Big Sky
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
6-1,0-0 Big West
3
Final
1
Eastern Wash. EWU
3-4,0-0 Big Sky
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 15 25 25 25 (3)
Eastern Wash. EWU 25 19 20 18 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

`Runners Improve to 6-1 with Road Win at EWU

CHENEY, Wash. – A slow start gave way to a strong finish as the CSU Bakersfield volleyball team earned a 3-1 road victory over Eastern Washington Friday night. The Roadrunners improved to 6-1 on the year with the victory as CSUB is off to its best start in over 15 years, chasing the 2005 squad's 9-1 start.

"We played as a team today," said Giovana Melo, Bakersfield's Director of Volleyball. "We were very encouraging of each other in hard moments."

Melo's squad got off to a rocky start on EWU's floor with the `Runners falling flat in Set 1, 25-15. Bakersfield's head coach told her team to shake off the stumble and return to fundamentals: "We focused on going back to basics and putting a little more pressure on our serve." CSUB went on to sweep the next three sets on the way to another victory.

The `Runner offense was balanced with all six CSUB starters tallying six or more kills against EWU. Bakersfield recorded 13 team blocks on the night, the team's second-best defensive effort of the season.

Junior outside hitter Hayley McCluksey tallied a team-high 10 kills while setter Seleisa Elisaia posted six kills on .600 hitting, 34 assists, four digs, and four blocks. Czech Republic native Hana Makonova also posted four blocks for the `Runners while adding nine kills against the Eagles. Fellow international Milica Vukobrat added six kills, 14 digs, and two blocks on Friday.

CSUB and EWU played tight in the early parts of Set 1, but a 4-0 spurt gave the host team a 12-8 advantage and a bit of breathing room. The Eagles closed the set on a 7-1 run as the `Runners dropped the game, 25-15. Bakersfield struggled on the offensive end in the opening frame, hitting -.074 compared to EWU's hot clip of .379.

After Melo's pep talk, the `Runners turned momentum in Set 2, leading most of the way but never by more than three points. EWU held a brief, 19-18 advantage, before CSUB tied the score at 19 all. Bakersfield closed the set on a 7-0 run to even the match with a 25-19 victory. Vukobrat, who hails from Novi Sad, Serbia, proved to be clutch down the stretch, registering kills on three of the final six points for CSUB.

Bakersfield used an early run in the third set to keep its momentum rolling, but EWU fought back to tie the score at 14, 15, 16, and 18. CSUB moved into prime position with a 3-0 run and finished off the Eagles, 25-20, to take a 2-1 advantage on the match.

CSUB did not let up in the fourth set, jumping out to a 14-8 lead over EWU. The Eagles went on a 6-2 run and pulled within two points, 19-17, but Bakersfield sealed the deal with a 6-2 run to end the match. The 25-18 win helped the `Runners to their sixth victory of the season.

Bakersfield will return to the court in Cheney, Wash. on Saturday for one final non-conference match. The `Runners will square off against Montana (5-4) before returning to California to prepare to play its first Big West Conference matches next week.

~GoRunners.com~
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