Friday, November 18
Riverside, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
10-17, 6-9
3
at
1
UC Riverside
8-19, 3-12
1
2
3
4
F
CSUN
25
25
25
25
3
UC RIVERSIDE
27
17
19
20
1
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
Owens Helps Power Matadors Past UC Riverside in Four Sets
11/18/2016 9:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Sophomore Aeryn Owens connected for a career-high 27 kills to lead the CSUN women's volleyball team to a 25-27, 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 victory at UC Riverside Friday night at SRC Arena.
Owens, who's previous high in kills was 24 (at UC Davis on Sept. 24), hit a blistering .426 on 54 attacks while also adding eight digs, three blocks and one ace. Senior Julie Haake added 14 kills on .306 hitting in the penultimate match of her CSUN career as the Matadors (10-17, 6-9 Big West) reached double figures in wins for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
CSUN, which hit a then season-best .333 against the Highlanders in a 3-0 win in Northridge on Nov. 1, upped that figure to .356 on Friday. Behind the setting of junior Lauren Conati, the Matadors posted 63 kills and just 11 errors on 146 swings. Junior Nickeisha Williams chipped in nine kills on a season-best .471 hitting clip while CSUN's middle duo of Morgan Salone and Melissa Eaglin combined for 11 kills (.296) and seven blocks.
The Matadors held four set points in the opening set before the hosts put together a set-clinching 7-1 run to win in extra points 27-25. CSUN led by as many as eight points in the opening frame before the Highlanders rallied to get within one at 18-17. Owens' kill looked to put the Matadors in the drivers seat at 24-20 before UCR put together the decisive run to take the set.
Set two stayed tight until Conati found Salone for consecutive kills giving CSUN a 16-12 cushion. The Matador lead swelled to 19-14 on a Highlander hitting error and Conati's setter attack found the deep corner on set point giving CSUN the 25-17 win.
Haake and Williams posted consecutive kills midway through the third set giving the Matadors an 11-8 lead while swelled to 17-11 following an Owens ace. The hosts trimmed the lead to 17-14 but could get no closer as a UCR swing sailed long on set point giving CSUN the 25-19 win and the two sets to one lead.
After the Highlanders opened up an 11-9 lead in the final set, Kristey Markle's ace capped a 5-0 CSUN run that gave the Matadors the lead for good at 14-11. Owens' back-to-back kills, her 25th and 26th of the match, gave CSUN an 18-13 lead and the Matadors closed the match 25-20.
Cristina Maietta led four UCR hitters in double figures with 16 kills but the Highlanders dropped to 8-17 overall (3-12 Big West).
CSUN returns to The Matadome Saturday as the Matadors host Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. Prior to the match, CSUN will honor seniors Julie Haake and Maddie Leiphardt.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
UCR
Kills
63
58
Errors
11
27
Attempts
146
147
Hitting %
.356
.211
Points
74.0
67.0
Assists
62
54
Aces
4
5
Blocks
7.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
27
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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