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VOLLEYBALL SQUANDERS 2-0 LEAD, FALLS TO CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD, 3-2
9/4/2009
 SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Cal State Bakersfield overcame a 2-0 sets deficit and saved three match points on the way to a spirited 3-2 victory (17-25, 16-25, 28-26, 25-22, 18-16) over the Hornets in the first round of the Sacramento State Invitational Friday evening at Colberg Court.
Sacramento State had a 24-22 lead in the third set and appeared ready to win the match, but Cal State Bakersfield used a solo block from Barbie Unfried and a Hornet attack error to tie the score 24-24. Both teams exchanged points before a Kelsy Mills kill and a Lindy DeGeare ace gave the set (28-26) and momentum to the Roadrunners.
In the fourth set, Sacramento State held a 22-21 lead, but the Roadrunners ran off four straight points to force a fifth set. The Hornets fell behind big (12-7) in the fifth, but stormed back to take a 14-13 lead behind sophomore Breanne Menees’ serving, which included back-to-back aces at 12-10 and 12-11. However, a Hornet attack error allowed Bakersfield to tie the score at 14-14. Sacramento State would save match points at 15-14 and 16-15, but the Roadrunners finally put things away on a kill from DeGeare and another Hornet attack error.
“I was happy with the first two sets, we were playing aggressively, attacking the ball well and playing good defense,” Sacramento State head coach Ruben Volta said. “However, we let our guard down, Cal State Bakersfield began playing with confidence and we didn’t react the way we should.”
With the loss, Sacramento State (2-2 overall) is 0-1 at the two-day, three-match tournament. The Hornets conclude tourney play tomorrow with a pair of matches against UC Riverside (12:30 p.m.) and Santa Clara (7 p.m.). In today’s first match of the day, Santa Clara defeated UC Riverside, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-15). Four matches will be played tomorrow, including Cal State Bakersfield vs. Santa Clara at 10 a.m., and UC Riverside vs. Cal State Bakersfield at 5 p.m.
Through two sets, Sacramento State was hitting .306 while limiting the Roadrunners to a .052 percentage. However, during the final three sets, the match took a dramatic turn as the Hornets never hit better than .171 in any of the final three frames
Cal State Bakersfield served tough all night, finishing with 11 aces. Many balls that weren’t aces turned into tough chances on the Hornets’ offensive end because they had trouble with the return. Sacramento State finished the match with more kills (66-57), assists (62-53), digs (94-90) and blocks (11-9), and a better hitting percentage (.223-.171), but could not pull out the victory.
Two Hornets had double-doubles, comprised of senior Desiree Hoyum (career-high 26 kills and 23 digs) and freshman Janelle Currey (18 kills, 17 digs). Junior Maddison Thivierge added 11 kills, four blocks and a .280 hitting percentage. Defensively, Sacramento State had four players finish with double-figure digs, including Menees (24) and freshman Sydney Kordic (14). Menees also accounted for four of the Hornets’ 10 service aces. Senior setter Melissa Melcher posted career highs in both assists (54) and blocks (4), and sophomore Anna Schoener added four kills, four blocks and a .333 hitting percentage.
For Cal State Bakersfield, Alysia Baker and DeGeare each had 12 kills, Tika Smith had 11 kills and Kayla Williamson posted a ridiculous 39 digs. DeGeare (4) and Baker (3) accounted for seven of the Roadrunners’ 11 aces.
Tonight’s match was the first of a season-long seven-match homestand for Sacramento State that spans 12 days. In fact, the Hornets play 10 home matches inside the friendly confines during the month of September, and will play 17 home tilts during the regular season, the most in the program’s Div. I history (1991-pres.).
SACRAMENTO STATE INVITATIONAL
RECORDS HEADING INTO SATURDAY
Santa Clara 1-0
Cal State Bakersfield 1-0
Sacramento State 0-1
UC Riverside 0-1
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Santa Clara 3, UC Riverside 0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-15)
Cal State Bakersfield 3, Sacramento State 2 (17-25, 16-25, 28-26, 25-22, 18-16)
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
10 a.m. - Cal State Bakersfield vs. Santa Clara
12:30 p.m. - Sacramento State vs. UC Riverside
5 p.m. - UC Riverside vs. Cal State Bakersfield
7:30 p.m. - Santa Clara vs. Sacramento State
ATTENDANCE
Friday – 294
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