NM State Aggies vs CSU-Bakersfield Roadrunners Volleyball 10-10-19

Here’s a little bonus coverage of the Aggie road game this week to start.

10-7-19 vs CBU Lancers

I didn’t realize the Aggie Volleyball girls had three games scheduled this week, until I heard the Monday game mentioned on the radio in the morning.  I might have missed it otherwise.  They were playing against the Lancers on the road.  I was able to bring it up at work and keep an eye on it.  The CBU announcer was very complimentary of the Aggies.  It’s always gratifying to hear the opposition praise your team.  He said the Aggies really only had one weakness: their serving was poor.  Oh boy, this guy was prescient. 

The Lancers lead basically all the way in Set 1.  The Aggies’ bad serving kept them from catching up.  They had 5 in the set.  Meanwhile, the Lancers had three aces.  It went 25-19 to CBU.  Set 2 went the Aggies’ way as they built up good lead.  Natalie Mikels had a five-point serving run, though that ended on the team’s seventh service error.  The Lancers nearly caught up, but, there was beautiful Megan Hart with a kill to end their run.  25-20 Aggies to tie the match. 

The Aggies had their eleventh service error, but got out to a lead in Set 3.  The Lancers closed in late with an ace.  The Aggies lost their first set point on their sixteenth service error, but did prevail to win it, 25-22.  In Set 4, with Megan hitting .500 by this point, the CBU announcer called her, “Incredible.”  The team was doing well hitting.  Savannah Davison and Nat both had good serving runs that built up a nine-point lead.  The Lancers did not quit.  Nicole Abreu put in three aces in a row as part of a four-point run.  Sav ended it with a tip.  Meg made a couple of kills that finally broke their spirit.  The Aggies took the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-1.

Between serving and serve receiving, Coach Jordan must have been losing his mind.  At least the team hitting was still excellent.  Savannah Davison led with 17, Megan Hart followed with 15, and Julianna Salanoa had 10.  While many teams have one primary scorer, the Aggies have six who can hit double-digit kills on any given night.  That can be overwhelming, 59 to 35 tonight. 

Blocking was also excellent with the Aggies up 17-7.  Jules, who was the WAC defensive player of the week, had 11 blocks.  The downside was the 18 service errors.  Yikes.  They did have 6 aces, while the Lancers had 8.  After the match, Coach Jordan talked to the team on court.  After the team left, Sav stayed and had an animated discussion with him and Coach Rubio as the coverage ended.  Hmm . . .  Sidebar, CBU plays in a small gym.  In the game, two balls hit the rafters.  Those were still in play.

10-10-19 vs CSU-Bakersfield Roadrunners

Did you know Wendy’s released a tabletop RPG?  Yes, that Wendy’s, the fast food restaurant, and yes, RPG like in Dungeons & Dragons.  Why?  We’ll chalk it up to “interesting marketing.”  In any case, I downloaded it and found it interesting.  I gave Ron a longer version of this story to explain why I was suggesting going to Wendy’s for dinner before tonight’s game.  The marketing worked on me.  It was a good choice and a tasty meal.

This may be the CSU-Bakersfield Volleyball team’s last visit here, since they’re going to a new conference next year.  The game was on TV tonight.  Adam Young and the lovely Kelsi Meredith were doing the call below us.  Kelsi was in a, yikes (!), tank top.  It was a good thing we were only seeing her from the back and just her long luscious hair during the match.  Otherwise, she would have been terrible distraction.  The Softball PA (whose name I still don’t know) was here tonight, instead of PA Ed.  I hope he’s okay. 

There was Analyssa Acosta peeking out from behind the locker room curtain several times.  She always does that, as she is the player who leads the team out after they change into their game tops.  The fight song was muted as the girls came out to do their twin circle dance on the sidelines.  I hoped that wasn’t a bad omen.  The crowd was listed at 976.  It didn’t seem that big, but we’ll go with it.  There were a bunch girls there were likely volleyball players.  A team from Tularosa was in attendance wearing t-shirts.  The Aggies tossed little volleyballs into the crowd during their introductions.  Basically, all of their throws went awry.  It’s not their forte. 

Set 1

The opening ceremonies were rushed a bit, but then delayed for about 30 seconds for TV.  And the first serve of the match by Natalie Mikels sailed out.  This was an uncomfortable flashback to Monday’s game.  I need not have worried.  Cat Kelly’s next couple of serves were good.  Julianna Salanoa got the first Aggie kill at 2-1 Aggies, and another at 3-1.  Jules and Ashley Anselmo combined on a block next at 4-1. 

A couple behind me and Ron were getting vocal already.  The good news was that they were Aggie fans.  The bad news is that they were also the loudest and most obnoxious.  6-1 Aggies, Ash and Jules combined on another block.  At 8-1, CSUB called a timeout.  “Why do they wear kneepads on their shins?” one of the loud fans asked.  He had a point.  11-7, CSUB started making a comeback.  A kill by beautiful Megan Hart broke it up.  12-8, Cat made a killer tip on a bad set. 

13-9, the team looked completely disorganized on this point.  They had to make saves on a couple of their own hits, but Cat ended the point with a kill.  16-9 Aggies, Nat put in an ace at the ankles of a CSUB defender.  That’s better.  17-11, Savannah Davison ducked under a Bakersfield serve that flew out.  She came up smiling.  19-12, Meg had a solo block.  20-12, Ash had a block and then ducked under a return swing that went out.  Timeout Roadrunners.  All of the breaks were going to the Aggies so far. 

In the row below us, a guy was eating a Burger King burger.  One, how did he get that thing inside?  Two, really how did he get that thing inside the Pan-Am Center?  It was the size of a manhole cover.  We could smell it all the way down the row.  Ron and I both felt a bit cheated on our meal. 

21-13 Aggies, Ash got the kill on this point, but the Roadrunners got a great pancake dig to keep the point going.  23-14, Sav got in a great serve.  That was good to see.  Meg got the kill, but again there were two more great CSUB digs.  Autumn Gentry and Brigette Lowe came in late and combined for a set and a kill respectively at 24-14.  Jordan George served on the next point.  The Aggies lost it on a long rally, but won the set on the next point, 25-15.

Set 2: Aggies 1, Roadrunners 0

An interesting promo pic came up on the video board with Krysten Garrison and Natalie for the game on Saturday.  It was an odd pose for them.  We’ll leave it at that.  Kassi Stolz on the Aggie reserves started dancing when she noticed she was on camera during the break.  She’s definitely the one to put the lens on for those kind of shots. 

2-0 Aggies, Jules put in an ace.  I’m liking this serving.  3-1, Sav got her second point of the set.  4-3, CSUB won the point, but Cat and Meg made a pair of saves.  Analyssa nearly went headfirst into the sideline table trying to get the last swing.  5-4, the Roadrunners went into the lead on a rare out-swing by Megan.  5-5, Cat tied it with a kill and got the next two Aggie points.  8-5, Annie made a save at the net that led to an Aggie point on a block. 

9-6 Aggies, Cat got another kill, but put it into the net on her next swing.  10-8, Annie got a pancake dig that led to a kill by Ashley.  11-8, Jules got a block as the Aggies started pulling away.  16-10, coming out of the media timeout, Nat made a great dump shot attempt that was dug out.  Meg finished the point on a kill that deflected high into the stands.  17-11, Meg then combined with Lia Mosher on a block. 

Halle Razo came into serve.  It went just deep.  She came back out.  Coach Jordan gave her low-five as she went by.  He didn’t seem mad, so he may have approved of the attempt.  20-12, Cat made a tremendous slam on an overpass kill.  Timeout Roadrunners.  22-12, Sav with a backcourt court attack.  It was hit hard enough that I heard some thunder afterward. 

Brigette and 4’9” Brenda Hernandez subbed in.  Brenda got some extra cheers.  She made a couple of digs.  Brig came out after a CSUB swing went off her for a point.  The Coach talked to her for a while on the sidelines.  Again, he wasn’t angry.  It was an instructional talk.  Ash ended it on kill.  25-16 as Aggies took Set 2.

Set 3: Aggies 2, Roadrunners 0

For the half, the Cheerleaders came up into the stands to hand out free rolled tacos.  Ron, strangely, wasn’t interested in more food or meeting the Cheerleaders.  I just don’t like rolled tacos.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s a ruined taco, but I’m in the minority.

The Roadrunners came out swinging.  4-2 CSUB, Sav was blocked on the point, as the CSUB bench erupted.  5-5, Krysten had a serve that went just out.  She was still serving much better this match though.  7-6, Megan got her second kill of the set to give the Aggies the lead.  8-7 CSUB, the Roadrunners went back up as a Cat swing went out.  Annie made a save off-court during the point.  She was really selling out tonight. 

9-7, Analyssa was also taking the hits, as she was hit in the face on an overpass kill.  She was okay and laughing afterward.  The down official was not laughing.  He went over and checked the ball that was used on the point.  There was also an extended stoppage, as a stadium staff member came out to clean a spot on the floor under his direction.  Did Annie slip there?  Maybe.

10-8 Roadrunners, a service error broke up a CSUB run.  10-9, a tape serve by Nat dropped in for an ace.  13-10, a swing by Ash was called out.  The crowd murmured, except for the couple behind us, who were yelling about it.  14-11, another CSUB service error broke up their run.  15-11, media timeout.  Raising Canes coupons were passed out by the Cheerleaders in the next section.  Ron complained they’d gotten coupons before.  A few students ran over to sit there as the coupons were being handed out.

16-11 Roadrunners, Ash fired one out.  The coach started yelling at the girls from the sidelines.  16-12, yet another CSUB service error.  They were keeping the Aggies in this one all by themselves.  20-14, “Double!” the guy behind us screamed, wanting a double touch call on the Roadrunners.  This became a steady refrain.  Was he right?  I don’t know.  I can’t tell those DT’s.  Timeout Aggies.  The Roadrunners took the set, 25-17.  The guy was shouting, “Lift,” during the last point.  Him and his girlfriend took it out on the refs.  “That one’s on you, Ref!”  “Yeah, you can hear us!”  “Are you from Bakersfield!”      

Set 4: Aggies 2, Roadrunners 1

The Cheerleaders tossed some candy into the crowd.  That didn’t seem like the best delivery system.  The Aggies were flat in Set 3.  I feel like Monday’s game caught up with them more than the Roadrunners’ play or the Aggies not playing hard enough.  Early in this set, the Aggies looked outright tired.

The Roadrunners took the first point as the Aggies made a campfire around a shot, but a quick pancake dig saved it.  3-1 CSUB, Ash and Sav combined on a block.  They looked gassed.  4-3 CSUB, all together now, a CSUB service error.  I appreciate writing about the other team’s net balls and out-serves for a change.  5-4, Annie took another shot off the face.  She’s tough and still cute.  7-7, the Aggies tied it on a tip by Megan after a long rally.  9-8, the Aggies took the lead on Analyssa’s serve. 

CSUB briefly went back in the lead.  10-10, Lia and Jules combined on a block to tie it.  The Roadrunners went up again.  Megan was on the sidelines yelling at the team.  I don’t think I’d seen that before.  The Aggies went back up, 13-12, on a Meg and Ash block.  14-13, CSUB took this point.  Kiley Tonge’s serve was going out, but was accidentally dug.  Ashley’s swing was called out.  She was unhappy and the crowd was angry.  14-14, a swing by Megan was called out and the crowd got really angry.  15-14 Aggies, Meg took, I think, three swings on this point and finally got the kill on the last one.  Media timeout.  

From here, the Aggies finally started pulling away.  17-15 Aggies, Jordan Pleasants came in to serve.  19-16, Brigette came back in.  20-17, Cat buried one.  21-18, Cat again.  22-18, there was an overrule on what looked like a good shot on the backline by the Roadrunners.  It was ruled out.  During the CSUB timeout, the line judge and the up official had a quick, confidential talk.  A large student danced for the camera for the second time in the game.  Honestly, he’s got better moves than Kassi.  23-19, Sav with a kill.  25-21, Megan killed it to give the Aggies the set win and the 3-1 match win.

I barely said anything about the Roadrunners here didn’t I?  The team was frankly a little chunky in places, but they could play.  They were digging well.  The Aggies got very few easy kills, which is what they thrive on.  CSUB was hurting themselves on serve.  Brooke Boseau and Hanna Makonova led with 10 kills each.

The Aggies had just 5 service errors in the match.  I can guess what the coach had them working on after Monday’s game.  I hope this wasn’t why they were exhausted by the end of this game.  They led 48-44 in kills.  Neither team was able to overpower the other.  Aggie digging was also good in this game, along with being up 14-3 in blocking.  Cat Kelly led with 13 kills, Ashley Anselmo had 11, Savannah Davison had 10, and Megan Hart had 9.  The Aggies have so many good scorers, it’s very hard to keep any three of them from getting double-digit kills. 

I hope they can keep up this serving and digging, since those were this team’s main weaknesses.  There were some out-swings keeping down the kill totals.  Also, they didn’t seem to be sharp blocking.  I could see those two issues being caused by tired legs.  I doubt they’re going to get well-rested before their next game on Saturday afternoon.  Hopefully, they’ll grit it out.  All I did after the game was write this, so nothing else to report there, and we’ll look forward to that next game.