Matadors Storm Back to Top UCR on Senior Night

Friday, November 20

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

7-20, 6-9BWC

UC Riverside

10-18, 5-10BWC

UC Riverside

CSUN

Photo by: Laura Pierson

Matadors Storm Back to Top UCR on Senior Night

11/20/2015 10:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA - The CSUN women's volleyball team avenged a tough five-set loss at UC Riverside earlier this month as the Matadors stormed back from a two-set deficit to defeat the Highlanders 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-12 Friday night at The Matadome.

The Matadors (7-20, 6-9 Big West) honored seniors Alia Casino and Cieana Stinson in festive postmatch ceremonies that looked to take on more of a somber tone after the visitors claimed the first two sets. But behind a team-high 17 kills from freshman Aeryn Owens and a career-high 16 kills from redshirt freshman Nada Dragovic, CSUN pulled out wins in the third and fourth sets and then held off UCR 15-12 in the fifth.

"This was truly a team win; we have players that can play in different places and that's how we got the win tonight," said CSUN head coach Jeff Stork. "One of the things we tried to get the players to do this week was relax. We had some disappointing conference losses in the last few weeks so emotionally the players were a little worn out. We took it a little easier this week and I think it paid off tonight."

CSUN and its leading hitter Stinson struggled in the early going hitting a combined .072 as the Matadors dropped the first two sets. Stork then utilized his depth at the setter spot as sophomore Lauren Conati came on for starter Maddie Leiphardt and helped CSUN to .279 hitting the rest of the way. Conati handed out 29 assists to go with four kills, four digs and a pair of aces to spark the comeback.

Junior Julie Haake added 12 kills and a pair of solo blocks while the duo of Stephanie Serna Arreola and Rachel Diaz combined for eight kills, eight digs and a pair of blocks in the middle.

After dropping the opening set 25-23, the Matadors nearly battled back from an 18-12 deficit in the second set. Dragovic had a pair of kills in an 8-2 CSUN run that tied the score at 20-20. But the visitors outscored the Matadors 5-2 down the stretch to take a two-set lead into the break.

Trailing 12-10 in the third, a trio of Owens kills and a Conati kill propelled CSUN on a 5-0 run that gave the hosts the cushion they needed. Although the Highlanders tied the score three times down the stretch, they could never take the lead and the Matadors won by the score of 25-23. After taking the fourth set 25-22, CSUN scored the first four points of the fifth before ultimately building its lead to five at 8-3.

An ensuing 4-0 run by UCR cut the lead to 8-7 but a pair of Highlander hitting errors followed by Nicolette Pinkney's first ace of the season boosted the lead back to four at 11-7. UCR would get within two in the latter stages, the final time at 14-12, when Owens' swing on match point landed just inside the line and CSUN had its fifth win in eight home matches this season.

Fabiana Rosas and Helena Peric led the Highlanders (10-18, 5-10 Big West) with 18 kills apiece.

CSUN concludes the 2015 season Saturday as the Matadors travel to Cal State Fullerton at 7:30 p.m.

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