Matadors Topple Cal State Fullerton in Straight Sets

Tuesday, November 10

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

6-19, 5-8BWC

Cal State Fullerton

0-24, 0-12BWC

Cal State Fullerton

CSUN

Photo by: Laura Pierson

Matadors Topple Cal State Fullerton in Straight Sets

11/10/2015 10:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA - Senior Cieana Stinson pounded a match-high 15 kills to lead the CSUN Matadors to a straight set (25-19, 25-18, 25-17) victory over Cal State Fullerton in a Big West match Tuesday at The Matadome.

With the win, the Matadors snap a four-match slide and improve to 6-19 overall and 5-8 in the Big West Conference.

Stinson led all hitters with 15 kills as the senior from Woodland Hills hit .387 on 31 swings. Junior Julie Haake added nine kills (.286) and Aeryn Owens chipped in eight while hitting .538 on 13 attacks. CSUN middle Stephanie Serna Arreola posted seven kills (.600) and five blocks while fellow middle Rachel Diaz also had seven kills to go with three blocks.

CSUN hit .365 (47-12-96) as a team as junior setter Maddie Leiphardt recorded 40 assists. Defensively, sophomore Katie Sato had a team-high nine digs and two aces while libero Kristey Markle added eight digs.

After Serna Arreola's kill gave the Matadors an early 5-4 lead in the opening set, CSUN continued to roll earning the ensuing six points to open up an 11-4 lead. In a set of runs, the visitors rallied for six points of their own to cut the lead to 11-10. Then it was the Matadors turn as they outscored the Titans 9-2 over the next 11 points to open up a 20-12 advantage. Leading by five at 24-19, Leiphardt found Owens on the left side for a kill on set point and CSUN had a one-set lead.

Neither team led by more than two through the early stages of set two until a Titan hitting error put CSUN in front 10-7. The Matadors still led by three at 12-9 when Stinson's kill propelled CSUN on a 3-1 run to boost the lead to 15-10. The Matador lead swelled to as many as five (16-11) before Fullerton engineered a late charge to get within 18-16 but CSUN hung to take a two-set lead.

The final frame was fairly even until the Matadors snapped a 9-9 tie with a 9-2 run to open up an 18-11 cushion. A pair of Diaz kills followed by Markle's ace on match point sent CSUN to the 25-17 win.

Megann Delgado had eight kills (.150) to lead the Titans who slipped to 0-24 overall and 0-12 in conference play.

CSUN continues its current homestand Friday as the Matadors host Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

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