BAKERSFIELD, Calif.. -
The 13th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team won a five game thriller 30-17, 27-30, 30-21, 32-34, 16-14 on Friday night over Cal State Bakersfield. With the win, the Tritons improve to 14-4, 6-3 CCAA while the Roadrunners drop to 12-6, 5-3 CCAA. A block assist by Brianna Koche and Kristin Halvorsen in game five sent the Tritons home with the win. The block was one of nine for Koche, who also added 13 kills. Nicole Courtney led UCSD with 20 kills and 16 digs. Rebecca Bailey notched 12 kills, six digs and six blocks. Kimberly Carpenter tallied 17 kills and Amber Ries added 16.
In game one leading 11-6, UCSD scored seven unanswered points off Carpenter serves to take an 18-6 lead. The Tritons then cruised to the 30-17 win as Ries sent down the final kill.
Game two saw UCSD jump out to another 11-6 lead. This time CSUB responded by tying the score at 16-16, and going in front at 19-16 after four consecutive UCSD attack errors. The Tritons fought back after back-to-back Carpenter kills to even it at 19-19. CSUB then regained the lead with four consecutive points at 23-19. The Tritons would close to within 28-26, but CSUB closed out game two at 30-27.
Leading 12-10 in game three, Bailey served up back-to-back aces and Ries recorded a kill to push UCSD ahead 15-10. CSUB cut the deficit to 15-12, before Courtney served two aces for the 20-13 Triton lead. UCSD held the lead as Koche recorded the kill to give UCSD the 30-21 win.
Game four was close throughout as CSUB opened up the first lead of any significant margin at 18-14. Trailing 20-15, UCSD scored four straight on two Courtney kills, a Koche kill and CSUB attack error, cutting the deficit to 20-19. UCSD would finally take the lead at 28-27 on a Courtney kill, forcing a CSUB timeout. Out of the timeout, Ries sent down a kill to force match point at 29-27. Cal State Bakersfield climbed back, scoring the next three points and forcing a game point of its own, leading 30-29. The Tritons would tie it at 30, 31 and 32, before the Roadrunners broke through with back-to-back kills, forcing a game five, 34-32.
The Roadrunners opened up an 8-5 lead as the teams changed sides in game five. Trailing 12-9, Carpenter sent down a kill, followed by a CSUB attack error and a Courtney kill, tying the game at 12-12. Bailey put the Tritons ahead with a smash at 13-12. With the teams tied at 14-14, Koche put the Tritons in front 15-14, with her 13th kill of the night. After a CSUB timeout, the Roadrunners attempted to tie the game but Morgan Reed's attack was blocked by Koche and Halvorsen, giving the Tritons the 16-14 win.
Other Tritons in double figures included setter Kim Adams with a career-high 65 assists and 10 digs. Laura Watkins added a team-high 17 digs.
UCSD is back in action on Saturday, October 15 when it hosts Cal State San Bernardino at 7:00 pm in RIMAC Arena.
