Oct. 24, 2009
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - San Diego State stretched its season-best win streak to four matches as it defeated Cal State Bakersfield, 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-21, 26-24), Saturday afternoon at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield. The victory allowed SDSU to even its season record at 10-10 while the Roadrunners fell to 10-13.
Kyley Sexton, Hannah Evans and Andrea Hannasch recorded 13 kills apiece to lead the SDSU attack while Paije Pearson also finished in double figures with 11. Evans completed her fourth double-double effort of the year while Sexton notched her second as they also added 11 and 10 digs respectively. In addition, Pearson had three blocks and finished with a career-best eight digs for the third consecutive match.
Sophomore setter Lauren Van Orden had 48 assists and also chipped in with three service aces (tying a career personal best) and seven digs. She helped the Aztecs to a .299 attack percentage over the four sets compared to a .203 mark for Bakersfield.
CSUB's Lindy DeGeare led all players with 20 kills. but was the lone Roadrunner to end the afternoon in double figures in that category.
San Diego State took control of the opening set as it ran out to a 12-5 lead and was able to maintain that advantage the remainder of the contest aided by four kills from Sexton and three each from Hannasch and Pearson. The Aztecs hit .300 for the set while holding Bakersfield to a .197 mark.
The second set started out in a similar fashion as the Aztecs jumped out to a 12-6 lead. This time, however, the home side battled and slowly worked itself back into the contest. The Roadrunners would go on to score five straight points after trailing 20-18 and even the match at one set apiece.
After the break, the teams played another tight set with neither begin able to gain the upper hand. With the score tied at 18-all, SDSU got three consecutive points on a kill by Hannasch and a pair of Roadrunner hitting errors to take charge of the contest at 21-18. After CSUB closed to within a point at 21-20, the Aztecs got three of the final four points to capture the set by four.
Set number four was the closest of the match as SDSU led by three at 23-20 only to see Bakersfield tie the score at 24-24. At that point, the visitors got as kill from Pearson and a service ace by Hannasch to win the set and close out the match.
San Diego State now returns home for a pair of matches next week beginning with a conference showdown against second-place TCU on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:00 p.m. in Peterson Gym.