University of Nevada Athletics

CHENEY, WASH. - Nevada Volleyball closed out the Eastern Washington Volleyball Tournament, Saturday, securing a comeback win 3-2 (20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-13) against CSU Bakersfield. 

Set one was a back and forth affair, with both teams trading runs early, Nevada taking the edge 15-14 at the media timeout. Madison Long and Malia Pilimai provided sparks for the Pack late in the set but not enough to stop the Roadrunners taking out the set 25-20. 

Nevada faced strong attack from the Roadrunners early in set two, accumulating a six-point run to lead 8-2. Ceren Sert led the Pack to two separate four-point runs, with four kills to settle the score at 16-16. The Pack continued to put up a fight late in the set before eventually dropping the set 25-23. 

Facing an uphill battle, the Pack came out hot in set four, with four Long kills leading the Pack into the media timeout up 15-11. Nevada maintained that momentum, keeping the attacking form up to run the set out 25-21. 

Nevada found offensive spark early in set four, following a tight opening, the Pack broke away with a six-point run, kicked off by two Paige Thies service aces. Holding a 15-8 lead, the Pack further extended, going on a five-point run, capped by three Long kills to lead 20-10. Pulling away, Nevada ran the set out 25-16. 

Set five started off a tight battle, with both teams tied at 4-4 before Sert had two kills and a solo block to put the Pack up 7-4. The tide then turned the Roadrunners way, with a four-point run putting them up 8-7. The team's shared points until a four-point run from the Pack, led by three Pilimai kills put Nevada up 14-12, eventually winning the deciding set 15-13 to secure a reverse sweep and second win of the tournament. 

Nevada was powered by Paige Thies' 21 kills and 13 digs, while Madison Long added a career-high 16 kills on a blistering .519 hitting percentage and Ceren Sert contributed 12 kills while hitting .385. Adriana Dorn recorded a double-double with 40 assists and 16 digs, directing the Wolf Pack offense and adding four kills of her own. Defensively, Masyn Navarro anchored the back row with a match-high 23 digs, while Lara Pacheco chipped in 11 digs and Keely Hummel added 10 assists and two service aces. At the net, Karly Bonaventure posted a team-high four blocks, helping Nevada place five players in double figures in either kills, assists, or digs during the match.