Oct. 11, 2008

Final Stats

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Cal State Northridge saw its losing streak reach 11 and its Big West record drop to 0-6 after Cal State Fullerton came into The Matadome and handed the Matadors a 25-23, 25-19, 25-19 setback on Saturday night.

The Titans improve to 9-10 overall and 3-2 in the Big West while the Matadors drop to 5-14 overall and remain winless in conference play.

No Northridge hitter reached double figures in kills in the three-set loss as senior Val Kepler (.438) and sophomore Siara Grayson (.200) each posted a team-high nine kills. Kepler also had six blocks while Grayson posted five digs and three blocks. Junior Angela Hupp added seven kills (.200), four digs and three blocks while sophomore Brittany Williams chipped in six kills but struggled to a -.042 hitting clip as the Matadors hit .162 (36-18-111) as a team. Setter Sam Orlandini posted a double-double of 29 assists and 10 digs which was matched by libero Kelley Hanson for team-high honors.

The first set featured 15 ties and seven lead changes as neither team led by more than two points the entire set. Northridge led by two at 15-13 after a Hanson ace and also led 20-18 following a Chelsea Johnson ace. A Williams kill gave the Matadors their final lead of the set at 22-21 before back-to-back Fullerton points forced a Northridge timeout at 23-22. A bad set by Orlandini gave the Titans a 24-22 lead and the Matadors were able to save one set point on a Grayson kill before Jennifer Edmond's kill ended the frame at 25-23.

The first set loss seemed to deflate the Matadors as they came out flat in set two and quickly fell behind 6-1. Northridge cut the lead to 6-3 after Orlandini and Kepler blocked Edmond but the lead was soon back to six (12-6) on a Brittany Moore kill. The Titans then claimed five of the next seven points to open up a 17-8 lead after Orlandini was called for a double contact. A Hupp-Kepler block capped a late Matador run which closed the gap to 23-19 but a Johnson service error and a Williams attack error gave Fullerton a two-set lead.

The Titans led a majority of the final set after coming back from an early 3-1 deficit. A Grayson hitting error gave Fullerton a 10-7 lead and the Titans also led by three at 14-11 following a Moore kill. The Matadors then took five of the next six points to wrestle back the lead at 16-15 on a Kepler-Grayson block. After a Fullerton timeout, a kill from Erin Saddler followed by a Kepler hitting error gave the Titans the lead back for good at 17-16. After Northridge closed to within 19-18 on an Edmond service error, Fullerton outscored the Matadors 6-1 down the stretch to claim set three 25-19.

Moore, who left the match midway through set three with what appeared to be an ankle injury, pounded a match-high 21 kills for the Titans while hitting a solid .356. Fullerton setter Andrea Ragan posted 35 assists and nine digs while libero Cami Croteau had a match-high 12 digs.

Cal State Northridge continues its three-match homestand next week as the Matadors host UC Davis on Friday (Oct. 17) and Pacific on Saturday (Oct. 18).

- GO MATADORS -