CSUN Blanks UC Riverside on Senior Night For Second Straight Sweep

Saturday, November 11

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

12-14, 6-8BWC

UC Riverside

9-16, 1-12BWC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UC Riverside	24	22	17	0
CSUN	26	25	25	3

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

CSUN Blanks UC Riverside on Senior Night For Second Straight Sweep

11/11/2017 10:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Rachel Diaz had a team-high 12 kills to lead the CSUN Matadors to a senior night victory, sweeping UC Riverside 26-24, 25-22, 25-17 in a Big West Conference match Saturday at The Matadome.

Diaz, who was honored with teammates Lauren Conati, Katie Sato and Nickeisha Williams in a postgame ceremony, hit .529 on 17 attacks to go with three blocks and two digs. Junior Aeryn Owens added 11 kills (.226) seven digs and a pair of solo blocks as the Matadors swept their second straight opponent, improving to 12-14 overall and 6-8 in the Big West.

Redshirt freshman Daniella Molinari matched her season-high with six kills (.333) while Morgan Salone and Williams each chipped in five kills.

Conati and Sato concluded their home careers with 35 assists and 14 digs respectively as each continued to climb the CSUN career lists. Kristey Markle added four aces to her team-leading total of 39, which matches Kayla Wright for most in CSUN's Rally Scoring history.

"Senior night is always such a special time and to send our seniors off with somewhat of a convincing win is very nice," said CSUN head coach Jeff Stork. "It was an emotional night, all four seniors are very special and I'm glad they will fondly look back at their time at CSUN."

After trailing 6-1 early in the opening the set, the Matadors rallied back to take a 19-16 on an Erin Indermill ace and a Conati kill. After an Owens kill set CSUN up with set point at 24-20, the Highlanders saved four set points before kills by Diaz and Williams ended the set 26-24.

The Matadors also had to withstand a UCR rally in set two after jumping out to a 12-6 lead following a Salone solo block. Still trailing 18-14, the visitors rallied to knot the score at 18, two points coming on Matador hitting errors. After the Highlanders trimmed to CSUN lead to 23-22, a Diaz kill followed by a Conati ace on set point put the Matadors up two sets.

Leading 8-7, CSUN took command of the final set by scoring seven straight points. The Matador lead grew to as many as eight points before Cassidy Rosso's swing at 24-17 found the floor on match point.

Meg Graham had eight kills to lead UC Riverside (9-16, 1-12) while Mickayla Sherman and Fabiana Rosas each added seven kills.

CSUN concludes the 2017 season with a pair of road matches beginning next Saturday (Nov. 18) at Long Beach State.

#GoMatadors