BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield beach volleyball team made history on Friday, securing its first-ever victory over powerhouse Pepperdine in a thrilling 3-2 match. Entering the contest 0-9 all-time against the Waves, the Roadrunners delivered a monumental performance to notch the program's most significant win to date.

Pepperdine, which finished second in last year’s West Coast Conference (WCC) Championships, became the heavy favorite in the matchup. However, CSUB rose to the occasion, delivering clutch performances to flip the script and make history.

The `Runners secured the victory with decisive performances in the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 pairs:

No. 3 Pair: CSUB’s Ella Erteltova and Vivi Kaelin dominated late, taking down Gabriella Perez and Marley Johnson in straight sets, 21-19, 21-10.

No. 4 Pair: In a battle of resilience, Ella Ensign and Vianna Garcia bounced back from a first-set loss to claim a thrilling victory over Emma Bubelis and Ella Foti, 18-21, 21-19, 17-15.

No. 5 Pair: The deciding point came from Bailey Combs and Brooklyn Thomas, who edged out Emi Erickson and Bella Avelar in a nail-biting 22-20, 21-19 win.

Although the Waves secured victories at the top two flights, CSUB’s depth and determination proved to be the difference.

With momentum from this historic victory, the `Runners will look to build on their success as they continue their season in The Big West Conference. CSUB will return to action next week in Tallahassee Florida for the Seminole Challenge.