Assistant Sports Editor
The CSU Bakersfield beach volleyball team had its senior day to honor three players: Aleksandra Djordjevic, Emily Lopes and Sydney Haynes as it battled not only the 86 degree heat but Vanguard University and CSU Northridge.
It was a split for the Roadrunners defeating Vanguard, 5-0 and losing to CSUN, 2-3.
“That first game against Vanguard was one of the best matches we’ve had in terms of focus, like aggressiveness and we executed,” said CSUB Head Coach Cesar Benatti.
With freshman Desiree Sukhov out, Benatti had to make a couple switches. Djordjevic and junior Briannah Mariner moved up to the No. 2 duo and sophmore Sarah Garrow was moved to the No. 3 duo, who was joined by freshman Brooke Boiseau.
From the No.1 duo to the No. 5 duo, CSUB handled its business against Vanguard. The Lions managed to get as high as 17 points in any match against the Roadrunners and were held to single digits in three of their matches.
All matches for the Roadrunners against the Lions went two sets, for the complete sweep over Vanguard.
CSUN has had the Roadrunners’ number all season long, going 3-0 before the final matchup of the season.
Two of the three matchups earlier in the season were 3-2 victories for the Matadors and the final was no different.
The game began with the duo of Djordjevic/Mariner and Boiseau/Garrow, who were moved to the No. 4 duo against CSUN, going 3-sets.
After losing the first set 15-21, Djordjevic and Mariner won the second set 21-15 to force the third set.
Trailing most of the third set, the duo tied it up at 12 and scored the final three points to take the 15-12 victory in the third set and win the match, 2-1.
Boiseau and Garrow lost the first set 23-21 but came back in the second to win 21-16 to force overtime. The third set slipped away as CSUN hung on to win 15-10 and win the match, 2-1.
Lopes and Junior Mattison Degarmo moved from the No. 4 duo up to the No. 3 duo for the match against CSUN and won in two sets: 21-16 and 21-19.
“It was a good win for me and Mattison. We were very consistent in our game,” said Lopes.
With the score tied 2-2, it came down to the No. 1 duo of Haynes and freshman Emily Hansen.
After losing the first set 17-21, they made a comeback in the second set and win 21-19. The third set was a back and forth battle, but CSUN’s No. 1 duo managed to pull away with the 15-10 victory and gives the Matadors the 3-2 win over the Roadrunners.
CSUB (6-16) will head to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Big West Championships. The championships begin Friday, April 27 through the 29.
“We all need to be focused and disciplined because everyone is excited but we have a big thing going on,” said Djordjevic on playing in Hawaii.
Photo by Johnathan Wheatley/ The Runner
