Oct. 31, 2008

Final Stats

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Junior Angela Hupp knocked down a career-high 27 kills and had 17 digs for her sixth double-double of the season but UC Riverside blocked its way to a 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 30-28 win over Cal State Northridge Friday at The Matadome.

With the win, the Highlanders improve to 8-16 overall and 3-6 in the Big West. The loss drops the Matadors to 6-18 overall and 1-10 in conference play. UC Riverside also sweeps the season series from Northridge for just the second time in nearly 20 years.

Hupp was virtually unstoppable for the Matadors as she hit .364 while recording 27 kills in a career-high 55 swings with just seven hitting errors. The junior from Acton, Calif., also added a season-high 17 digs to complete her team-leading sixth double-double of 2008. She is also the first Northridge hitter to surpass 20 kills in a match this season. Sophomore Siara Grayson was the only other Matador hitter to reach double figures as she posted 12 kills but struggled to a -.025 hitting clip. Fellow outside hitter Brittany Williams also struggled as she hit -.029 with eight kills and nine errors in 34 attacks. Lynda Morales added nine kills (.200) and three blocks while Kelley Hanson and Amy Hultner each posted 14 digs in the loss.

Northridge trailed virtually the entire first set and eventually fell behind 10-5 after a Dominique Cowling kill. UCR also led by five at 17-12 before the Matadors began to chip away at the lead eventually pulling within 20-19 after a Kelly Simpson attack went long. But an ensuing 4-0 Highlander run boosted the lead back to 24-19 and a Cowling kill closed out the set 25-20.

The Matadors took a brief 6-5 in set two after Kelly Fink hit out but UCR used a Cowling kill and a Morales hitting error to take the lead back at 7-6. The Highlanders held the lead until a ball handling error on Brittney Murrey and a Fink hitting error put the Matadors back on top 18-17. The Highlanders managed to knot the score twice more in the set but could never take back the lead and after a Cowling kill pulled UCR within 24-23, a Williams kill evened the match at one set apiece.

Northridge looked to build on its set two win and took several two-point leads early in the third set. With the Matadors on top 5-3, the Highlanders rolled off four straight points to open up a 7-5 lead after Grayson's attack was blocked. UCR's lead grew to as many as four at 12-8 following a Fink kill but Northridge took seven of the next 10 points to tie the score 15-15 on a Sam Orlandini-Tela Burnett co-block. Back-to-back kills from Hupp gave Northridge an 18-16 lead forcing a Highlander timeout. Another Hupp kill kept the Matadors in front 19-17 and the teams then traded sideouts until 21-21. A Williams hitting error put UCR up 22-21 and propelled the Highlanders on a 3-0 run which gave them set point at 24-21. Cowling hit long to save one set point but she answered on her next swing putting UCR up 2-1.

The final set was a see-saw affair that saw 22 ties and eight lead changes. With the score knotted at 23-23, a Morales kill put the Matadors in position to force a fifth set. But Grayson's attack went wide and the set would go to extra points. Northridge had two chances to put the set away but UCR answered each time. Williams attack was stuffed by Raquel Salinas and Amy Bush putting the Highlanders on top 27-26 and the Matadors were able to save two match points before Shannon Moyneur blocked Hupp on match point giving UCR the 30-28 win.

Cowling and Salinas wound up leading the Highlanders with 11 kills apiece while Cowling and Kimberly McNeal each had a team-high 15 digs. Moyneur had 12 total blocks (three solo) as UCR had 20.5 team blocks to 7.5 for the Matadors.

Cal State Northridge wraps up its two-match homestand on Saturday as the Matadors host UC Irvine at 7 p.m.

- GO MATADORS -