California State University at Northridge
Loyola Marymount
Matadors Top CSU Bakersfield to Pick up First Win of 2017
3/18/2017 8:58:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, CA - The CSUN beach volleyball team picked up its first victory of the season Saturday as the Matadors split two dual matches at the Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex in Bakersfield.
CSUN (1-2) got off to a great start in the morning, winning four of five matches against the host Roadrunners. The Matadors won the first two matches to take a 2-0 lead over CSUB. In the No. 5 match, Daniella Molinari and Cassidy Rosso earned their first win of the season after pulling out a 19-17 win in the deciding third set against Ally Barber and Kayla Tinker.
The No. 4 match was also decided in the third set. CSUN's Nico Stork and Nicolette Pinkney took the first set 21-17 before the hosts came back with a 21-15 victory to force a third set. The CSUN duo however, put CSUN up 2-0 by winning the deciding set 15-11.
Next, Aeryn Owens and Autumn Russell clinched the dual with a win at No. 3 over CSU Bakersfield's Sarah Garrow and Ashley Prater. It marked the third straight match to go the distance as  Owens and Russell pulled out a 21-9, 20-22, 15-6.
CSUN picked up its fourth win of the dual as Maddie Leiphardt and Nickeisha Williams claimed a 21-13, 21-17 win at No. 2. Julie Haake and Katie Sato battled in the No. 1 match before falling to Carol Grasso and Sara Little 21-15, 22-20.
In Saturday's second dual, the Matadors dropped a 4-1 decision to Loyola Marymount as Leiphardt and Williams picked up their second win of the day at No. 2. The CSUN pair earned their second sweep as they defeated Kekai Whitford and Brittnay Estes, 24-22, 21-17.
All other matches went to the Lions in straight sets as Haake and Sato fell 21-18, 21-17 at No. 1, Owens and Russell fell 21-15, 21-16 at No. 3, Stork and Pinkney fell 21-15, 21-16 at No. 4 and Molinari and Russo lost 21-16, 21-10 at No. 5.
"Overall it was a successful day for us earning the split and going 1-1," said assistant coach Noelle Rooke. "Each team battled in both duals and continued to learn about their individual strengths and weaknesses and we know exactly what we need to work on to improve our overall game moving forward."
CSUNÂ opens a five match homestand next week as the Matadors host Colorado Mesa and Pepperdine at the Matador Beach Volleyball Facility Wednesday, Mar. 23.
CSUN vs. CSU Bakersfield
Mar. 18, 2017 at Bakersfield, CA
CSUN 4, CSUBÂ 1
| 1 |
Grasso/Little (CSUB) def. Haake/Sato (CSUN) |
21-15, 22-20 |
| 2 |
Leiphardt/Williams (CSUN) def. Rodriguez/DeGarmo (CSUB) |
21-13, 21-17Â |
| 3 |
Owens/Russell (CSUN) def. Garrow/Prater (CSUB) |
21-9, 20-22, 15-6 |
| 4 |
Stork/Pinkney (CSUN) def. Manzanares/Busler (CSUB)Â |
21-17, 15-21, 15-11Â |
| 5 |
Molinari/Rosso (CSUN) def. Barber/Tinker (CSUB)Â |
21-16, 17-21, 19-17Â |
CSUN vs. Loyola Marymount
Mar. 18, 2017 at Bakersfield, CA
LMU 4, CSUN 1
| 1 |
Sponcil/Slattery (LMU) def. Haake/Sato (CSUN) |
21-18, 21-17 |
| 2 |
Leiphardt/Williams (CSUN) def. Whitford/Estes (LMU) |
24-22, 21-17Â |
| 3 |
Prichard/Kovac (LMU) def. Owens/Russell (CSUN) |
21-15, 21-16 |
| 4 |
Doud/Nederend (LMU) def. Stork/Pinkney (CSUN)Â |
21-15, 21-16Â |
| 5 |
Castellanos/Williams (LMU) def. Molinari/Rosso (CSUN)Â |
21-16, 21-10Â |
#GoMatadors
