OREM, Utah – Despite a valiant comeback effort, Utah Valley University couldn't overcome a 2-0 deficit on Saturday afternoon as it fell to Bakersfield in five sets in Western Athletic Conference action at the PE Building (28-30, 20-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-15).
 
With the loss, the Wolverines (9-13, 4-3 WAC) drop into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings while Bakersfield (9-11, 5-2) finds itself in a tie for second with the win.
 
"We made some changes and played a lot better in the third and fourth sets but that first one was tough to take. We were on a roll that set as well as in the fifth, but the ball didn't bounce our way," said head coach Sam Atoa. "We're going to get better. I was proud of the girls for being able to fight back and give ourselves a chance to win."
 
Despite suffering the defeat, four players recorded double digits in kills for the Wolverines. Macky Treanor led the way with 17 kills and 10 digs for her first double-double of the year, while Kalani Norris posted 14 kills, Cassie Wahlin added 12 and Lauren Bakker chipped in 11. Bakker also posted a match-high seven blocks while Madison Wolford added six. McKenna Tait chipped in a team-high 25 digs.
 
After dropping the first two sets, UVU got things going in the third as it built a 10-6 lead. Bakersfield came right back, however, tying the score at 12-12. The game stayed tight from there until UVU pieced together four straight points to take a 21-17 advantage. Norris led the run with a pair of kills. The Roadrunners pulled to within one late, at 24-23, but the Wolverines put the set away the very next point on a CSUB attack error. Norris led the way for the Wolverines, going a perfect 6-for-6 in kills in the frame.
 
The Wolverines continued right where they left off in the fourth set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. UVU later stretched its lead to seven, at 17-10, following consecutive kills from Wahlin, Bakker and Norris. The Wolverines held the lead from there as they went on to take the set by eight points following a block assist from Wahlin and Wolford.
 
Bakersfield took the upper hand early in the decisive fifth set as they built an 8-5 advantage. With the 'Runners later holding a 13-9 lead, UVU got things going by scoring three unanswered points to cut the deficit to one at 13-12. With CSUB holding a 14-12 match-point advantage, UVU took advantage of a 'Runner miscue to make it a one-point game, at 14-13, but Bakersfield put the match away the next point on a kill from Sydney Haynes.
 
Kelsee Sawyer paced the Roadrunners with a match-high 30 kills while Danika Youngblood added a double-double with 20 kills and 13 digs.
 
In the first set, the Wolverines got off to a strong start as they opened up a quick 8-3 lead following an ace from Bakker. UVU managed to hold on to the advantage until the Roadrunners reeled off a 6-1 run to tie the score at 19-19. CSUB later took a 24-21 set-point lead but back came the Wolverines with three unanswered points to tie it up at 24-all. The frame went back and forth from there until the 'Runners converted back-to-back kills from Sawyer to take the set, 30-28.
 
UVU once again built an early 8-3 advantage in the second set following a pair of Treanor aces. Bakersfield battled right back, however, with another run of its own to take a 13-11 lead. The 'Runners later stretched their lead to five, at 19-14, but back answered the Wolverines at they pulled to within two a couple of points later (19-17). CSUB held onto its lead, as it took the set by five points.
 
The Wolverines will now head out on the road for a four-match road stretch spanning the next two weeks. UVU will begin the road swing Tuesday in Cedar City for an in-state match against Southern Utah. The Wolverines will then head to Seattle to face conference foe Seattle U next Saturday afternoon.