CSUN Volleyball Knocks Off Pepperdine in Four Sets

Friday, September 1

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

Pepperdine

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

CSUN Volleyball Knocks Off Pepperdine in Four Sets

9/1/2017 10:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA - The CSUN women's volleyball team remained unbeaten in the Pepperdine-CSUN Challenge as the Matadors knocked off their co-hosts in four sets Friday night at The Matadome.

CSUN won the first two sets handily before holding off a late charge by the visiting Waves over the final two sets as the Matadors ran their winning streak to three. Set scores were 25-18, 25-12, 21-25, 25-23.

The win was also the first for CSUN over Pepperdine in Northridge in five tries dating back to 1978.

"Obviously the first two sets we dominated statistically," said CSUN head coach Jeff Stork. "We were in a great rhythm and had terrific energy but the 10-minute intermission is always worrisome in how the team comes back. Pepperdine played better after the break but it really was a character win for us."

Junior Aeryn Owens continued to pace the Matador offense as she connected for a match-high 19 kills on 54 swings (.185). Owens completed her third double-double of the season by adding 13 digs to go with four blocks (two solo).

Senior Rachel Diaz added 11 kills and four blocks while hitting a match-high .500 on 20 attacks. Sophomore Melissa Eaglin also had a solid match in the middle as she chipped in nine kills on .438 hitting along with a match-high five blocks.

Senior libero Katie Sato scooped up a season-high 26 digs, the most since she had a career high 34 against Rhode Island at Pepperdine on Aug. 26, 2016. Setter Lauren Conati handed out 50 assists in leading the Matador hitters to a .252 hitting clip.

Holding a slim 11-10 lead in the opening set before kills from Owens and Nada Dragovic along with a Pepperdine hitting error boosted the lead to 14-10. The Waves quickly got back within two before CSUN used another 3-0 run to take control of the set.

The Matadors took advantage of some Pepperdine miscues in the early portion of set two, opening up a 10-4 lead. After hitting .263 in set one, the Matadors connected at a .267 clip in the second and limited the visitors to a -.172 percentage to win going away 25-12.

Pepperdine battled back to take the third set, 25-21 and look poised to force a fifth set after jumping out to an 8-5 lead in the fourth. Erin Indermill's team-leading seventh ace of the season put the Matadors in front 17-14 before the Waves answered with a 6-3 run to tie the score at 20.

A Nickeisha Williams kill put CSUN in good shape at 23-21 but again the Waves rallied to tie the score at 23 when Williams attack went long. But timely kills from Dragovic followed by a swing by Williams that could not be returned by Pepperdine gave the Matadors the four set win.

Heidi Dyer came off the bench to lead the Waves (3-2) with 11 kills on .250 hitting. Nikki Lyons, who also came on as a sub, chipped in 10 kills (.292) in the loss.

CSUN concludes tournament play Saturday as the Matadors host Northeastern at 1 p.m.

#GoMatadors