Oct. 18, 2008

Final Stats

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - All streaks come to an end sometime, for Cal State Northridge the end of its current streak could not come soon enough. The Matadors broke into the win column in Big West play with a 26-24, 27-25, 18-25, 27-25 win over Pacific on Saturday that not only snapped a 12-match losing streak but also gave Northridge its first home win of the 2008 season.

The Matadors improve to 6-15 overall and 1-7 in the Big West with the victory while the Tigers drop to 5-11 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

Junior Angela Hupp knocked down a team-high 16 kills to lead a trio of Northridge hitters in double figures. Hupp hit .270 and also added 16 assists and eight digs. Siara Grayson added 12 kills (.229) five digs and two blocks and Brittany Williams chipped in 11 kills (.269) and four blocks. The Matadors also got important contributions from senior Kayla Wright, who posted a team-high 37 assists, seven kills and eight digs, and junior Tela Burnett who five kills, four digs and eight total blocks. Kelley Hanson and Amy Hultner also combined for 27 digs in the win.

Pacific led for a good portion of set one after jumping out to a 6-1 forcing an early Matador timeout. The Tiger lead would grow to as many as six (9-3) before an 8-2 run pulled Northridge even at 11-11. But a Mallori Gibson kill kept Pacific on top at 12-11 and the Tigers would not surrender the lead until a Williams kill gave the Matadors a 15-14 lead. Northridge matched its largest lead of the frame after a Hupp kill gave the Matadors a two-point cushion at 18-16. An ensuing four-point run by Pacific gave the Tigers back the lead at 20-18 but the Matadors answered with a three-pont run to retake the lead 21-20. A Lynda Morales hitting error gave Pacific its final lead of the set at 23-22 before the Matadors used an Alexa Anderson hitting error and a Wright kill to take the lead for good at 24-23. Shannon Krug's kill drew the Tigers even buy another Anderson hitting error and a Hupp kill ended the set 26-24.

In set two, the Matadors held the lead until Williams was blocked by Gibson and Masha Vaysburg giving Pacific a 12-11 lead. Northirdge regained the lead 13-12 after a Williams kill followed by a Burnett-Williams block on Gibson. The Tigers then claimed seven of the next eight points to open up a 19-14 lead. But a Hupp kill propelled the Matadors on a 4-0 run to close within 19-18 before a Svenja Engelhardt kill followed by an Engelhardt ace put the Tigers in front 21-18. After the Matadors knotted the set at 23-23, a Gibson kill gave Pacific a set point at 24-23. But a Wright kill and a Gibson attack error gave the Matadors a set point at 25-24 but Hanson's service error tied the set for the 13th and final time at 25-25. A Williams kill and an Engelhardt hitting error put the Matadors up two sets.

The Tigers led for all but four points of the third set after jumping out to an 11-7 lead. The Pacific lead was never less than two the rest of the way and Anderson's sixth kill of the set gave the Tigers a 25-18 win forcing a fourth set.

After the Matadors took an early 8-5 lead in set four, the Tigers battled back to tie the score 9-9 after Kepler hit out. From that point on the set became a battle of sideouts as the set featured 19 ties. A Williams-Kepler block on Gibson gave the Matadors a 20-18 lead forcing Pacific into a timeout. Northridge also led 21-19 after a Hupp kill before back-to-back Tiger points evened the score 21-21. Pacific had a chance to secure the set at 24-23 but a Burnett kill evened the score 24-24. Then with the score tied 25-25 and errant set by Vaysburg followed by a Hupp kill at match point ended the Matador streak.

Anderson posted a match-high 18 kills to lead Pacific while Gibson added 12 (.206) and Engelhardt added 11 (.097).

Cal State Northridge heads out on the road for its next two matches as the Matadors travel to Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara next weekend.

- GO MATADORS -