Backed by the best service game the team has had this season, Seattle University pulled out a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21) over CSU Bakersfield Friday night in volleyball action at the Connolly Center.
Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) led the way with 20 kills, three service aces, and six digs, while Julia Bonadio (Phoenix, Ariz.) made a significant contribution off the bench with 11 kills and six digs. Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) dished out 42 assists, and Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) put together a solid match with six kills, five service aces, and four total blocks as the Redhawks collected a season-high 11 service aces in the contest.
"It was a good win tonight. Megan ran the offense well. Our defense worked hard to dig up balls. It feels great to be home. We will work hard to get another win tomorrow," head coach Shannon Ellis, now at 99 career victories, said.
Seattle U went on an 8-1 scoring run early in the first set, punctuated by three Dill kills, to take a 12-5 lead, but CSU Bakersfield scored five of the next six points to pull to within three at 13-10. A block by Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.) and Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) set up set point, and a Roadrunner attack error clinched the first set for the Redhawks.
Both teams hit the ball well in the second set, with CSU Bakersfield earning a .462 hitting percentage and Seattle U posting a .481 hitting percentage. Down 14-11, the Roadrunners rattled off five straight points to pull ahead, 16-14, but back-to-back kills by Keller pulled the Redhawks into a tie. Down 22-20, Seattle U scored the last five points, thanks to a kill and a service ace by Dill and two kills and a block assist by Bonadio.
Two kills by Dill and two service aces from Keller allowed Seattle U to open the third set with five unanswered points, but CSU Bakersfield responded with a 9-0 run, with Haleigh Haratyk leading the way with three kills, to take a 10-6 lead. Errors by the Roadrunners allowed the Redhawks to come back and tie the set, but CSU Bakersfield extended the match by scoring the final four points, three of them on kills by Haratyk.
An 8-2 Redhawk run in the fourth set allowed the home team to take a 16-10 lead, but a kill by Brittany Hopley helped pull the visitors to within three at 18-15. Down by five later in the set, CSU Bakersfield received back-to-back kills from Haratyk to move closer, but Bonadio finished off the set and the match with a kill of her own.
Allie Hoskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) continued to lead the Redhawk defense from the libero position, collecting a match-high 16 digs. Seattle U was able to pull out the match despite a slight deficit in kills (52-51), hitting percentage (.267-.230), and digs (46-44).
Haratyk led the Roadrunners with 29 kills, 58 attack attempts, and three total blocks, making only six errors for a .397 hitting percentage. Hopley contributed 10 kills, Tika Smith added nine kills and five defensive digs, Lisa Bartsch dished out 44 assists to go along with six digs, and Lauren Holderman paced the backline with 11 digs.
Seattle University (5-18) will look to sweep the weekend and win the season series over CSU Bakersfield (6-17) when the two teams face each other again Saturday, Nov. 5, starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center North Court. Live stats and live video will be available on GoSeattleU.com.