By Esteban Ramirez
Assistant Sports Editor
History was made by the California State University, Bakersfield volleyball team.
Third-seeded CSUB swept fifth-seeded Seattle University (25-22, 25-21, 25-17) in the finals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Nov. 22 at the Icardo Center to get its first WAC title, and also for the first time ever the ’Runners advanced to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament.
“I didn’t expect this,” CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo said. “I knew we had to make changes, I knew we had to get the girls to believe in some of those things, but I didn’t expect this. Once we got to the end of the season, I knew that we had the heart to win it for sure.
“It’s really all about them. They worked extremely hard day in and day out. They put their hearts on the floor, and it really shows that size doesn’t really matter if you play with your hearts. Our system is to play fast and that’s kind of what beats size.”
The ’Runners (16-14) peaked at the right time winning the last two games – Utah Valley and Seattle – of the regular season at home earning them the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament. CSUB ran through No. 6 seed University of Texas-Pan American by sweeping (25-8, 25-16, 25-18) in the first round of the WAC Tournament, and moved on to the second round where it advanced to the finals with an upset of No. 2 seed New Mexico State University (21-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-20).
CSUB was able to build an early lead against Seattle thanks to three aces in the first set from redshirt-senior libero Mariah Alvidrez. Errors were costly for the Redhawks in their final regular season match against the ’Runners, and with the score 24-22 in the first set, a serve error by sophomore outside hitter Matea Mamic gave CSUB the first set.
In the second set, CSUB battled to take a 24-21 lead, and senior libero Eryn Riley, who was subbed in right before, won the set with an ace.
On the finale, it was a close battle with the ’Runners holding on to a 13-11 lead early on, but they went on a 12-6 run, which was capped off by a serve error from redshirt-senior middle blocker Stephanie Stoll and gave CSUB the win.
“It’s so awesome,” said Alvidrez, who finished with four aces and 13 digs. “I just don’t know how to react to it. I’m just excited for all of us. It’s the first time, and we did it.”
Junior setter Luiza Martins led the way with 43 assists. Senior outside hitter Danika Youngblood had 15 kills, junior outside hitter Kelsee Sawyer had 14 kills and senior middle blocker Molly O’Hagan added 11 kills.
“It’s an amazing feeling, and it means even more being here at home,” said O’Hagan, who also earned tournament MVP honors. “It’s just so unbelievable. We worked so hard this season, and peaked at the right time.”
CSUB will play top-seeded Stanford University (29-1) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
