CSUB Rides Success into Toughest Non-Conference Tourney

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunner volleyball team will ride the success and momentum built by a 2-1 showing last weekend at the Cougar Challenge into the team's sturdiest non-conference tournament of the 2022 season. On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, Cal State Bakersfield will take on South Dakota, Northern Colorado, and West Virginia, three programs that all made the 2021 NCAA Tournament and each finished in the Top 75 RPI of all volleyball teams last year.

South Dakota Classic Schedule

at South Dakota, Friday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. (PT)
vs. Northern Colorado, Friday, Sept. 9, 2:30 p.m. (PT)
vs. West Virginia, Saturday, Sept. 10, 9:00 a.m. (PT)

Top `Runner Performers Last Week

Setter Laura De Pra: 9.75 assists and 1.4 digs per set, ranks third in The Big West with 9.05 assists per set on the year
Outside hitter Lizzie Binder: 3.1 kills and 0.5 blocks per set, .177 hitting percentage, All-Tournament Team
Libero Paige Calvin: 2.8 digs per set, 2 service aces, All-Tournament Team
Middle blocker Hana Makonova: 2.0 kills and 1.0 blocks per set

Scouting the Coyotes

South Dakota has leaped out to a 5-1 start.
The only loss the Coyotes have suffered was against No. 4 Louisville in the Season Opener.
Outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke ranks ninth in the national with 3.96 kills per set and she has taken 39% of the team's swings on the year.
USD and CSUB have only met once before, a 2018 match in Bakersfield that CSUB won 3-0.

Scouting the Bears

Northern Colorado went 3-0 to start the season, including a three-set sweep over North Carolina.
Last weekend, the Bears dropped a pair of matches against Wichita State and Omaha.
A defensive presence at the net, 5-foot-11 Isabel Bennett ranks 27th in the country with 1.47 blocks per set.
CSUB owns a 3-1 record all-time against UNC, but the `Runners and bears will be meeting for the first time since 1994.

Scouting the Mountaineers

West Virginia is off to a 2-4 start, coming off a very tough slate last weekend.
The Mountaineers went 0-3, falling against Hawai'i, No. 23 UCLA, and Texas State.
Outside hitter Adrian Ell leads WVU with 3.18 kills per set.
The `Runners and Mountaineers will be playing their first-ever match against each other.

How to Follow the `Runners

All three matches will be streamed live via GoYotes.com
Links for video, live stats, and tickets are available at GoRunners.com/Live.
Live updates will be shared during the matches on Twitter @CSUB_Volleyball.

~GoRunners.com~

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#20 Lizzie Binder: OH; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#3 Paige Calvin: L/DS; 5' 7"; Senior

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

#1 Laura De Pra: S; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#20 Lizzie Binder
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: OH

#3 Paige Calvin
: 5' 7"; Senior
: L/DS

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

#1 Laura De Pra
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S