• The 2023-24 swimming and diving season kicked off at home for Cal State Bakersfield.
• Chelaine Van der Westhuizen posted outstanding Opening Weekend times in the 100 Breaststroke (1:01.99) and the 200 Breaststroke (2:15.51).
  • The senior ranks No. 25 in NCAA Division I in both events.
• Sophomore Vili Sivec earned victories in seven races over the two days of competition.
• Diver Dyson Modica won on both boards and his 1-meter board score (305.30) ranks fourth all-time at CSUB.
• CSUB hosted Alumni Weekend with almost 40 former `Runners returning to support and visit.

CSUB Sprint Classic – Friday, Oct. 13

• Van der Westhuizen got out to a hot start with her 100 Breast swim, an event she won by almost two seconds.
• Sivec posted a blistering 1:38.81 in his 800 free relay leadoff split.
• Sophomore Kylie Ney posted a 10:19.59 while winning the 1000 Freestyle by more than five seconds.
• Modica picked up a win on the three-meter board, just missing his personal best in the event.

Roadrunner Invite – Saturday, Oct. 14

• Van der Westhuizen stayed hot on the way to an impressive 200 Breast mark.
• Sivec picked up four victories, two individual and two relay.
• Ney finished runner-up in the 500 Free with a 5:00.65
• William Kainen posted a second-place finish with a strong 200 Breast time (2:10.16).
• Modica tallied his new career-high score on the 1-meter board, moving past Sean Ogren (2006).

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• The Cal State Bakersfield's men's soccer team remains tied for second in The Big West standings after splitting a pair of matches this week.
• The Roadrunners are on their way to a playoff berth and potentially hosting postseason play with three matches remaining.
• CSUB’s defense came into the weekend ranked first in the Big West 10th in all of NCAA Division I with a 0.615 Goals Against Average.
• The `Runners have earned four Big West Player of the Week honors so far this season.
• Bakersfield hosts UC Davis this week before hitting the road for its final regular-season road match.

   CSUB 1, UC Santa Barbara 0 – Wednesday, Oct. 11

• The Cal State Bakersfield men’s soccer team broke a three-way tie for second place in the Big West standings Wednesday night by stealing a last-second road victory against UC Santa Barbara.
• In the 86th minute, CSUB defender Haruya Iwasaki sent home the game-winning goal on a pass from freshman Adrian Jogerst.
• Just minutes before the `Runner goal, Jogerst cleared a ball off the CSUB line, preserving the scoreless score.
• Bakersfield’s defense recorded its sixth shutout of the season.
• The Roadrunners handed the Gauchos just their second loss of the season at home as UCSB was previously 6-1-1 at Harder Stadium. 

CSUB 0, UC San Diego 1 – Saturday, Oct. 14

• The two teams went into the final minute of the game scoreless.
• The host Tritons stunned the `Runners by scoring with just 34 seconds remaining in the match.
• CSUB played without two of its starters, captain Bryson Hankins and defensive midfielder Ethan Doud.
• The loss snapped Bakersfield’s seven-match road unbeaten streak.
• Despite the defeat, the `Runners remained tied for second in the Big West standings with UC Santa Barbara.

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• With a loss-win split last week, Cal State Bakersfield's women's soccer team heads into the penultimate regular season match sitting at 6th place in-conference.
  • With two games remaining in the season, the Cal State Bakersfield Women’s Soccer team is fighting tooth-and-nail for a playoff spot.
• With their much-needed win over bottom-half of the table UC Santa Barbara, the Roadrunners have eclipsed last season's win total, notching their third victory of 2023, bringing the conference record to 2-3-3.
• When Bakersfield is on its game, a barrage of shots and overall chance creation is utilized, as the `Runners are 6th in the Big West with 11.20 average shots-per-game.
  • Individually, Jette Zimmer sits at third in the Big West with an average of 2.67 shots-per-game.
• Unanimously voted to finish last place in the preseason conference polls, the `Runners continue subverting expectations and are well-within range of a playoff position given they take points from the final two games of the season.

CSUB 0, Cal Poly 2 – Thursday, Oct. 12

• As is the baseline this season, Bakersfield came out in the first half with a defensively-dominant performance as Hollee Hercik showcased her athleticism making two highlight reel saves against would-be Mustang goalscorers.
• Bakersfield was never quite able to settle Cal Poly's offense down with the Mustangs breaking into CSUB's box plenty of time despite repeated denials by a stout `Runner defensive backline.
• Coming out of the halftime break at nil-nil, Cal Poly relentlessly pressed high and attacked with even more lethality than before as starlet forward Annika Smith found Olivia Ortiz for the Mustangs' first goal of the evening.
• In total, the Mustangs upped the ante with 12 shots in the second half while limiting Bakersfield to no shots on goal and just two shots overall during the final forty-five.
• Cal Poly's Kate Reedy iced the game with a 65th-minute tally, as the Mustangs held on for a 2-0 victory, going top of the table that night.

CSUB 1, UCSB 0 – Sunday, Oct. 15

• Bakersfield looked the better side in the opening half, consistently putting pressure on the UCSB backline while CSUB goalkeeper Hollee Hercik was largely untested.
• CSUB attacker Hailey Russell was extremely active in the opening period, tallying a pair of shots in the first minute of the match.
• The two teams went to halftime scoreless while Cal State enjoyed a 6-4 advantage on shots.
• The `Runners needed just 75 seconds to score in the second period. Bakersfield took a 1-0 lead on a Karen Flores goal that was serviced by a great cross from Iliana Murguia and flicked on by Kim Garcia.
• UCSB created two close chances to find an equalizer in the final 10 minutes. The latter threat was thwarted by a heroic, headed save off the line by CSUB defender Catalina Roggerone.
• Bakersfield held on for the road win, tallying its third shutout of the season.

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• Cal State Bakersfield's Women’s Volleyball went 1-1 on the weekend, posting their first road win of the season in conference play.
  • Bakersfield beat the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a 3-0 sweep to close out the weekend.
• Later this week, CSUB will be back at home against the number one team in the league, UC Santa Barbara. This is followed by a road game against the Cal Poly Mustangs.
• After the weekend, the captain Ava Palm moved up in the Big West Rankings. The Bakersfield-native is currently 12th in kills-per-set at 2.74.
• Redshirt freshman, Breklyn Pulling, continues to make her mark on the program, ranking 7th in attacking (.288) and 9th in blocks (1.00 per set).

  CSUB 0, UC Irvine 3 – Friday, Oct. 13

• Bakersfield started the weekend out with a tough loss against UC Irvine, losing 3-0.
• Naomi Chankoumi had a standout game, leading CSUB in kills (8) and blocks (3).
• Bakersfield played each set similarly, 25-20 in set one, 25-20 in set two, and 25-17 in set three.
• Nene Hawkins led the team in aces at three, assists at 19, and digs at 14.

CSUB 3, Cal State Fullerton 0 – Saturday, Oct. 14

• The `Runners beat the Titans in a 3-0 sweep to take their first road win during Big West Play.
• Bakersfield was led by Ava Palm, who was the kills leader with 16. She also posted 3 aces, 1 block, and 9 digs to wrap up the match.
• In set one, Cal State Fullerton kept things pretty close with a final score of 25-22. Set two was similar with Bakersfield winning 25-21.
• By set three, Bakersfield took hold of their momentum, winning the match off a service ace by Ava Palm, 25-15.
• Freshman Breklyn Pulling led the match in blocks (4), helping in Bakersfield's efforts in the 3-0 blanking of Cal State Fullerton.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield Cross Country team traveled up north over the weekend for the Bronco Challenge, hosted by Santa Clara University in Sunnyvale, Calif.
• In their final meet before the big west championships meet, the Roadrunners saw two big personal bests from their 1-2 finishers.  
• Helena Valentic completed the Baylands Park course 63rd overall out of 187 athletes while also lowering her #2 CSUB all-time mark with a time of 21:36.8. 
• Neyda Martinez earned a personal best in the 6k by over 30 seconds with a new PB of 23:35.4. 
• Alea Goana, Jayden Reyes Samiento, and Alicia Muralles rounded out the scoring five for the `Runners. 
• CSUB finished in 21st place with a total of 608 points. 
• Next up: Bakersfield will travel to Nipomo, Calif. for the Big West Championships on October 27th. 

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