UVSC ends road trip in Bakersfield

Utah Valley State's multi-thousand mile road trip ends tonight when the Wolverines play at Cal State Bakersfield and UVSC can only hope it ends its losing streak as well.

"We always try and make the best of it and try to get better. We want to have the best record among the independent teams," said UVSC guard Ryan Toolson. "We want to beat a good Bakersfield team who has won five of their last six games and end the year by winning 10 in a row. There's no reason we can't that done."

The road has taken its toll. UVSC is 0-4 on this road trip and has now dropped to 6-13 on the year. UVSC has been to Alabama and Texas, then back home, then off to Chicago and Louisiana and home before taking off for California.

Now the Wolverines are hoping to get a rare road win against the Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield tonight at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on KSTAR 1400 AM.

The Roadrunners are an independent team who struggled early in the season, but now has a three-game winning streak and has beaten the likes of Loyola Marymount and Fresno State.

In UVSC's previous road games, the Wolverines haven't been able to play on both ends of the court during the same game. When they shoot well, they other teams shoots better. When they play better defense, the offensive takes the night off.

Another item that is sure to come up on coach Dick Hunsaker's radar is perimeter defense. Teams have been killing UVSC from the 3-point line during this road trip. Troy shot 38 percent, Lamar 41, Chicago State 53, and Louisiana State 50. Cal State Bakersfield shoots .391 from the 3-point line as a team.

"All those games, we can't really find a reason why we let them slip out of our hands," Toolson said. "I think the bottom line is turnovers and defense. We know we can score, we just have to stop the other team."

Following tonight's game, UVSC will be home for a three-game homestand beginning on Tuesday against North Carolina Central.

• BYU men's volleyball: At Fort Wayne, Ind., senior All-American Ivan Perez returned to the No. 1 BYU men's volleyball lineup to lead the team to a 30-23, 32-30, 23-30, 30-26 win F at No. 10 IPFW in front of a capacity crowd in the first of three matches for the Cougars (3-0) in four days.

Perez hit .588 on the night with 22 kills and only two hitting errors. Senior Jonathan Charette added 17 kills, while Trent Sorensen and Andrew Stewart had 10 apiece.

"It was very hostile, just how we like it," said BYU coach Shawn Patchell. "The fans were on the floor for a lot of the game. Ivan played well and did a nice job."

The match at Lewis today will be at 6 p.m. MT with live video and live stats available with links on the BYU men's volleyball schedule page.

• BYU women's tennis: The BYU women's tennis (2-1) pulled out a 7-0 sweep over in-state rival Utah State.

Anastasia Surkova, Elizaveta Ezhova, Kristina Doerr, Chie Hayasaka, Elle Carney and Jocelyn Jensen all came away with singles victories for the Cougars.

The Cougars play Arkansas today beginning at noon. The BYU men's team follows with a matchup against Eastern Washington at 5:30 p.m.

• BYU track: The BYU men's and women's track teams travel will compete in the Lumberjack Invitational today in Flagstaff, Ariz.

, BYU's second meet of the indoor season.

Northern Arizona is hosting the event that takes place at J.L. Walkup Stadium. Field events will begin at 8:30 a.m., with running events beginning at 11 a.m.

• BYU women's swimming: BYU edged Colorado State on Thursday night, 158.5-136.5 at the Richards Pool.

The Cougars improve to 5-0 in conference and handed CSU its first MWC loss.

"The best thing we did tonight was win and our girls had some good races which made it all worth it," BYU coach Stan Crump. "CSU has more depth than we have seen in the conference so far this year. They came at us with numbers and because of that I am sure we will have a good re-match at the conference championships."

Natasha Menezes, Jamie Bloom, Rachel Grant and Aleesha Miller were all double winners for BYU. Menezes dominated the distance freestyle events as she finished first in the 1,000-yard free (10:19.95) and the 500 free (5:02.15). Bloom was the first to touch the wall at both of the breaststroke distances, 200 (2:22.63) and 100 (1:05.71). Miller won both the sprint freestyle races in 23.82 (50) and 52.48 (100). Grant won the 200 fly (2:02.01) and the 200 IM (2:05.16).

BYU also got wins in diving.

"Overall we did really well," said dive coach Keith Russell. "Each diver is making improvements in where they are at in their individual skill level. It is great for our progression as we keep getting a little better with each meet."

The Cougar divers split the highest-score honors between sophomores Ava Jackman and Tawni Jones. Ava Jackman won the 3-meter event (282.30) and Tawni Jones won t he 1-meter board (301.05).