Editor-in-Chief
The CSU Bakersfield volleyball team swept Chicago State University (25-15, 25-12, 25-19) in the Icardo Center on Saturday and clinched the number two seed in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Roadrunners (12-14, 10-4 WAC) came in to the day tied with Utah Valley University (14-13, 9-5 WAC) for the No. 2 seed, but earlier in the day the New Mexico State, who will be the No. 1 seed, swept the Wolverines and allowed CSUB to clinch the No. 2 seed against Chicago State.
“We’re in a great position,” said senior outside hitter Kelsee Sawyer, who finished with a match-high 17 kills. “We’re in second place and have a bye, so we have to go hard for two games to win it. It’s awesome.”
The WAC Tournament will begin on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Kansas City, Mo.
With CSUB earning the No. 2 seed, the Roadrunners will get a bye on Thursday. Their road to repeat as WAC Tournament champions will begin on Friday at 5:30 p.m. as they play the winner of the first round match between No. 3 seed Utah Valley and No. 6 seed University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (11-18, 4-10 WAC).
“It’s really good to have [the bye],” Director of Volleyball Giovana Melo said. “It pays off with the work we have put out but it’s just the beginning. It doesn’t really mean anything if we don’t go in there and perform. Even though there is a bye, we need to go in there and perform.”
The top-seeded New Mexico State Aggies (25-4, 14-0 WAC) earned the other bye and will play the winner of No. 4 seed Seattle University (17-10, 9-5 WAC) and No. 5 seed University of Missouri-Kansas City on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
CSUB continued to build some momentum heading into the WAC Tournament as it hit .355 in the first set, while CSU hit 0. Then, in the second set the Roadrunners hit .375, while the Cougars hit .103.
In the third set, CSUB hit .405, while CSU hit .346.
Redshirt-sophomore middle blocker Sydney Haynes (.714) and senior outside hitter Edithza Urias (.417) led the way hitting for the Roadrunners.
“Just winning today is a confidence-builder finishing strong here on our home court and then taking over the court in UMKC,” said Urias.
Urias finished with 13 kills and 3 aces for the Roadrunners and senior setter Luiza Martins had 45 assists.
Sawyer, who scored the last point of the match in her final home match in the Icardo Center, said it was really emotional.
“When we were setting up for the last point, it was really hard because it was the last time it was going to happen to me,” Sawyer said. “It has been an amazing four years and I’m so thankful for everything I have been able to do here. It is just a really good feeling.”
