Northirdge Can't Hold Two-Set Lead as UC Riverside Deals Matadors Ninth-Straight Loss - CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

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Northirdge Can't Hold Two-Set Lead as UC Riverside Deals Matadors Ninth-Straight Loss

Junior Angela Hupp Leads Northridge With 15 Kills But Matadors Remain Winless in Big West

Oct. 4, 2008

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Junior Angela Hupp had a team-high 15 kills to lead a trio of Northridge hitters in double figures but the Matadors surrendered a two-set lead and suffered their ninth consecutive loss 20-25, 12-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-5 at UC Riverside on Saturday.

The Highlanders (6-12, 1-2 Big West) snap a 10-match losing streak overall and four-match losing streak to the Matadors. Northridge drops to 5-12 overall and remain winless in the Big West at 0-4. The Matadors' current skid is the longest for a Northridge team since the 1995 season.

Hupp, Brittany Williams (13 kills) and Siara Grayson (12 kills) each tallied double figures in kills but the Matadors continued to struggle as they hit .158 (55-31-152) as a team. Hupp managed a team-high .375 clip and Val Kepler hit .286 with six kills but no other Northridge hitter hit higher than .167. Hupp also rounded out a solid all-around match with 14 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double this season. Setter Sam Orlandini also posted her fourth with 34 assists and 10 digs in the loss.

Northridge looked to have its recent offensive woes worked out as the Matadors hit .324 in the first set followed by .348 in the second. In taking a commanding two sets to none lead, Northridge also limited UC Riverside into hitting clips of .194 in the first set and -.050 in the second.

With the score tied 12-12 in set one, a Williams kill propelled the Matadors on a 5-1 run as the Matadors opened up a 17-13 lead. A Dominique Cowling kill pulled the Highlanders with two at 19-17 before a Hupp kill and a Cowling attack error pushed the Northridge lead back to four at 21-17. The Matador lead was never less than three the rest of the set as Northridge took set one 25-20 following a Grayson kill.

Northridge dominated the second set as the Matadors jumped out to an early lead as Kelly Fink's hitting error gave Northridge a 9-4 lead forcing a UCR timeout. The Matadors didn't let up as they pushed the lead to 16-7 and eventually 20-9 after Hupp and Kepler blocked Kelly Simpson. Lynda Morales and Grayson then teamed-up to block Amy Read on set point and the Matadors had a two-set advantage.

Northridge could not sustain its momentum as the Matadors quickly fell behind 7-2 in set three. A Shannon Moyneur hitting error pulled Northridge within 8-6 but the Matadors would not get closer than two the remainder of the set. With the Matadors trailing 15-12,a 6-1 UCR run broke open the set as the Highlanders opened up a 21-13 lead. After closing to within 23-18, a Kelley Hanson service error and a Morales hitting error handed UCR the set 25-18.

The fourth set also proved tough for the Matadors as they again fell behind early this time 10-4 after Moyneur put up a solo block on Kepler. A Tela Burnett kill pulled the Matadors within three at 14-11 but four straight UCR points boosted the lead to 18-11 and Northridge would not recover.

The Matadors quickly fell behind 6-1 in the decisive fifth set before clawing back to within three (6-3) after Fink's attack went out. Northridge was within four at 8-4 and 9-5 but would not score again in the set as the Highlanders completed the comeback with the 15-5 win.

Cowling's 16 kills and .394 hitting clip led UCR which also got 14 kills from Fink. Libero Kimberly McNeal posted 14 digs while a pair of setters led the Highlanders to a .236 (50-20-127) team hitting clip.

Cal State Northridge wraps up its three-match road trip next Tuesday, Oct. 7 as the Matadors head to Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

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	Sophomore Brittany Williams had 13 kills against UC Riverside