Isaac Comelli, CSUB Athletic Communications

Beach Volleyball March 04, 2022

No. 20 CSUB Downs CSUN in a Pair of Home Matches

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Defending its recent No. 20 AVCA ranking, the CSU Bakersfield beach volleyball team earned a pair of victories at home against fellow Big West Conference member CSUN on Friday. The Roadrunners downed the Matadors 4-1 in the opening match before earning a 3-2 win to close out the day in the sand.

"I think it was a good day overall," said Cesar Benatti, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We had some really difficult moments that we overcame, especially in the first match against CSUN. I think we were aggressive and took risks. It's a big part of our philosophy this year…I feel that we're getting comfortable being aggressive this way."

In the opening match, Bakersfield clawed its way to a 2-0 lead after the first wave with the `Runner No. 2 and No. 4 pairs winning three-set matches. Caroline Benke and Megan Gilbert clinched the victory with a three-set win of their own before CSUB's 1s earned a straight-sets victory over the Matadors.

Benke, who hails from Brazil, talked about what it took for her pairing to win a pair of three setters on Friday: "CSUN has a really good team; they are very competitive. But I think Megan and me really focused on ourselves and on our game...We worked through it together. We had some bad moments, but we came back from it and bounced back with a really good mindset."

Bakersfield's only loss in the first match came by way of medical forfeit in the 3s pair as CSUB's Paige Calvin injured her leg during the first set. Calvin and teammate Hayley McCluskey nearly fought through the injury, but eventually fell 21-19 in the set and the pair decided to forfeit the match for Calvin's well being.

The second match of the day was one of the closest of the season for CSUB as the visiting Matadors gave the `Runners everything they had in the tank. Four of the five matches went to the tiebreaker set, but Bakersfield's strong start once again helped the `Runners win the match, this time by a 3-2 score.

Hana Makonova and teammate Sophia Hladyniuk won both of their matches, which featured two different CSUN pairs. After the match, Makonova talked about the differences between the two pairs of Matadors: "The first match, there was way more energy overall so we were trying to match their energy and create our own momentum...The second match was a little more quiet and calm, so we just had to step on the gas, go all the way and don't let go."

CSUB (4-1) will return to the Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex at the Student Rec Center next week for two more home games. The `Runners will host a tri-dual featuring The Master's University and Concordia Irvine on Saturday, Mar. 12.

CSU Bakersfield 4, CSUN 1

1s. Cameron Solberg & Milica Vukobrat (CSUB) def. Darbi Honeycutt & Mikaela Maughan (CSUN), 21-12, 21-15
2s. Hana Makonova & Sophia Hladyniuk (CSUB) def. Lauren Eknoian & Emily Sparks (CSUN), 18-21, 21-16, 15-11
3s. Abbey Sweeting & Victoria Rogers (CSUN) def. Hayley McCluskey & Paige Calvin (CSUB), 21-19, 21-0 (injury forfeit)
4s. Brooke Boiseau & Anna Unke (CSUB) def. True McCullough & Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN), 21-23, 21-18, 15-9
5s. Caroline Benke & Megan Gilbert (CSUB) def. Kailey Klein & Jadin Williams (CSUN), 21-15, 12-21, 15-8
Exh. Seleisa Elisaia & Alaina Gendale (CSUB) def. Darynne Bickers & Abbey Sweeting, 21-8, 21-9
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*, 1, 3

CSU Bakersfield 3, CSUN 2

1s. Lauren Eknoian & Emily Sparks (CSUN) def. Cameron Solberg & Milica Vukobrat (CSUB), 21-17, 19-21, 15-9
2s. Hana Makonova & Sophia Hladyniuk (CSUB) def. Darbi Honeycutt & Mikaela Maughan (CSUN), 21-12, 12-21, 15-10
3s. Seyvion Waggoner & True McCullough (CSUN) def. Brooke Boiseau & Anna Unke (CSUB), 13-21, 21-17, 15-11
4s. Caroline Benke & Megan Gilbert (CSUB) def. Abbey Sweeting & Victoria Rogers (CSUN), 19-21, 21-15, 15-8
5s. Seleisa Elisaia & Alaina Gendale (CSUB) def. Kailey Klein & Jadin Williams (CSUN), 21-14, 21-14
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5*, 1, 3

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau: 6' 1"; Sophomore

#1 Seleisa Elisaia: 5' 11"; Freshman

#3 Cameron Solberg: 5' 8"; Freshman

#22 Hana Makonova: 5' 10"; Freshman

#23 Hayley McCluskey: 6' 0"; Freshman

#25 Milica Vukobrat: 6' 0"; Freshman

#4 Alaina Gendale: 5' 8"; Junior

#15 Megan Gilbert: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#12 Anna Unke: 5' 4"; Junior

#7 Caroline Benke: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

#13 Paige Calvin: 5' 7"; Junior

#11 Sophia Hladyniuk: 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

#1 Seleisa Elisaia
: 5' 11"; Freshman

#3 Cameron Solberg
: 5' 8"; Freshman

#22 Hana Makonova
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#23 Hayley McCluskey
: 6' 0"; Freshman

#25 Milica Vukobrat
: 6' 0"; Freshman

#4 Alaina Gendale
: 5' 8"; Junior

#15 Megan Gilbert
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#12 Anna Unke
: 5' 4"; Junior

#7 Caroline Benke
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

#13 Paige Calvin
: 5' 7"; Junior

#11 Sophia Hladyniuk
: 5' 10"; Freshman

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

No. 20 CSUB Downs CSUN in a Pair of Home Matches

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau

#1 Seleisa Elisaia

#3 Cameron Solberg

#22 Hana Makonova

#23 Hayley McCluskey

#25 Milica Vukobrat

#4 Alaina Gendale

#15 Megan Gilbert

#12 Anna Unke

#7 Caroline Benke

#13 Paige Calvin

#11 Sophia Hladyniuk

Players Mentioned

#2 Brooke Boiseau

#1 Seleisa Elisaia

#3 Cameron Solberg

#22 Hana Makonova

#23 Hayley McCluskey

#25 Milica Vukobrat

#4 Alaina Gendale

#15 Megan Gilbert

#12 Anna Unke

#7 Caroline Benke

#13 Paige Calvin

#11 Sophia Hladyniuk