Women’s volleyball defeats Seattle U
By Mark Nessia
Photo Editor
marknessia@yahoo.com
Mark Nessia/The Runner - Women’s volleyball took on Seattle University.
The CSUB volleyball team took one more step toward its season goal by defeating Seattle University in straight sets, 14-25, 22-25, 13-25, Nov. 1 at the Icardo Center.
At 12-14, the Roadrunners are three wins away from achieving their season goal of finishing above .500. It would be the second year in a row that the program has done so since beginning the transition to Division I after the team finished 18-15 in 2008.
The ’Runners trailed only once in three sets, off an attack error by junior outside hitter Lindsay Toone that gave the Redhawks a 4-3 lead in the third set.
Mark Nessia/ The Runner
Sophomore middle blocker Alysia Baker gets an easy kill past two Seattle U blockers.
The Redhawks cut the ’Runner lead to 22-21 in the second set before two kills by sophomore outside hitter Lindy DeGeare and an ace by senior setter Barbie Unfried ended Seattle’s best chance for a win.
“We came out and played with pretty good energy,” CSUB coach John Price said. “Last time we played at 2 in the afternoon, we came out a little flat, so I was pretty happy with the way we came out in Game 1.”
The ’Runners’ last 2 p.m. game was against San Diego State, which defeated the ’Runners 3-1. The ‘Runners were plagued by mistakes and missed opportunities in the loss.
Price said the team played well on Friday against California State University, Northridge, and that it was nice to see good play continue.
“I think we served really well, I thought we passed really well,” Price said. “I thought it was a good match for us.”
The ’Runners totaled 12 aces, with DeGeare, sophomore middle blocker Alysia Baker and senior libero Kayla Williamson serving three each.
“I think we played really well together,” Baker said. “I think we had really good energy, and we were just really uplifting.”
Baker led the ’Runners with a .923 attack percentage, finishing second with 12 kills behind DeGeare’s 13.
“[Barbie Unfried] was setting money sets every time,” Baker said. It was just easy. Every time I got up early, the block wasn’t there, and [I] just hit it.”
Unfried had a game-high 29 assists to go along with her seven kills and two aces.
Four-time NCAA Division I Volleyball Independent Defensive Player of the Week Williamson continued to anchor the defense registering a team-high 11 digs. Williamson has been Player of the Week for the last two weeks, and has also been named Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
“I just feel it’s something that goes along with it,” said Williamson regarding her accomplishments this season. “I never expected it, it was never one of my goals, it was something that took me by surprise and it was exciting to know about. It wasn’t something that I thought that ‘Oh I’m going to do it this week again.’ I just go out and play.”
The ’Runners’ final five games include road contests against UC Riverside, San Diego State and Fresno Pacific, and home games against Fresno State and San Jose State.
The ‘Runners have split against Riverside, while losing the first meetings against Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, and San Diego State. The ’Runners have yet to face San Jose this season.
“Four of those five teams we’re playing at the end of the year, we’re 1-4 against,” Price said. “But they’re all close matches, so I feel pretty confident we can get them, but we’re going to have to play well.”
The ’Runners return to the Icardo Center on Nov. 17, when they host a rematch against Fresno State at 6 p.m.