Wednesday, February 22
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
10-6, 3-6MPSF
2
vs
3
USC
6-9, 5-7MPSF
1
2
3
4
5
F
USC
25
25
18
22
15
3
CSUN
22
21
25
25
10
2
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
Matadors Fall to USC in Five Set Thriller
2/22/2017 10:10:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Down two sets to No. 14 USC, 11th-ranked CSUN battled back to force a fifth set before the Trojans pulled out a 15-10 win to take the MPSF match 3-2 Wednesday night at The Matadome.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 15-10 as USC improved to 6-9 overall and 5-7 in the MPSF. The loss drops the Matadors to 10-6 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
CSUN posted a 62-54 advantage in kills, behind Arvis Greene's match-high 25. The Matadors also out-aced the Trojans 7-2 as Dimitar Kalchev matched his career-high with six aces. USC won the defensive battle, scooping up 40 digs to CSUN's 31 and out-blocking the Matadors 13.0-9.0.
Greene hit .383 on 47 swings to go with four digs and three blocks while Kalchev added 16 kills (.333) and a team-high eight digs to go with his six aces. Junior Josiah Byers was also effective out of the middle as he eight kills (.500) and five blocks.
Neither team hit particularly well in set one as the visitors pulled out a 25-22 win. The Trojans then hit .367 to CSUN's .241 in taking a two-set lead.
The Matadors then turned the tables in set three, hitting .320 to USC's .111. The set also showcased the serving of Kalchev who served five aces as CSUN built a 21-11 lead. Leading 24-13, the visitors saved five set points before a USC serve found the net.
Kalchev's sixth ace of the match pulled CSUN even at 11 in the fourth set. The score was still tied at 20-20 when a Trojan hitting error was followed up by kills from Greene and Kalchev giving the Matadors a 23-20 lead. After USC pulled within 24-22, Kalchev sealed the win with a big swing on set point.
In the fifth, USC snapped a 3-3 tie with three straight points and CSUN could not recover. The Trojans built an 8-4 lead as the teams changed sides and eventually led by five at 10-5. A Greene kill pulled the Matadors within 12-10 but USC closed the match on a 3-0 run.
Lucas Yoder had 24 on .395 hitting to pace to Trojans.CSUN continues its homestand Friday as the Matadors host Cal Baptist at 7 p.m.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
USC
CSUN
Kills
54
62
Errors
22
27
Attempts
117
138
Hitting %
.274
.254
Points
69.0
78.0
Assists
54
59
Aces
2
7
Blocks
13.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
25
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
16
Aces
6
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Men's VolleyballOPP
/ Men's VolleyballOH
/ Men's VolleyballCalHOPE Award Nathan Merren
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