Matadors Claim Inaugural Pepperdine-CSUN Volleyball Challenge

Saturday, September 2

Northridge, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

4-3

Northeastern

1-5

Northeastern

CSUN

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

Matadors Claim Inaugural Pepperdine-CSUN Volleyball Challenge

9/2/2017 4:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA - Behind the performances of MVP Aeryn Owens and all-tournament selections Rachel Diaz and Katie Sato, the CSUN women's volleyball team captured the inaugural Pepperdine-CSUN Volleyball Challenge after sweeping Northeastern Saturday afternoon at The Matadome.

In sweeping the visiting Huskies 26-24, 25-19, 25-22, the Matadors (4-2) completed the tournament unbeaten and ran their current win streak to four, CSUN's longest since
winning five straight at the tail end of the 2014 season.

Owens, who was named tournament Most Valuable Player, tied for match-high honors with 10 kills to go with 12 digs for her fourth double-double in six matches this season. Diaz and Sato were also named to the all-tournament team as Diaz had a dominating tournament offensively while Sato commanded the back line.

Diaz, who had eight kills on .727 hitting against the Huskies, committed just a single hitting error in three matches while hitting .600 on 45 attacks. Sato had eight digs against Northeastern which gave her 52 in the tournament, an average of 5.20 digs per set.

Although the Matadors won in straight sets Saturday, it wasn't easy.

Both teams had a tough time getting untracked offensively as the Matadors wound up hitting .067 (29-22-104) for the match. Northeastern was just slightly better at .096 (35-23-125).

"We played three teams with three different styles of play over the course of the tournament," said CSUN head coach Jeff Stork. "The nice thing is we're winning while also learning how to win various types of matches against teams with different looks."

The Matadors won the battle at the service line as senior Lauren Conati and junior Kristey Markle each served four aces, which for Conati a career high. Owens and Sato also added an ace as CSUN had 10 as a team to three for the Huskies.

The Matadors looked to have set one well in hand after a Northeastern hitting error gave CSUN a 20-14 lead. Still leading 23-17 following a Morgan Salone kill, the Matadors watched as the Huskies outscored CSUN 7-1 over the next eight points to knot the set 24-24.

But the Matadors got a kill from Nickeisha Williams followed by Markle's ace on set point and CSUN pulled out a 26-24 win.

The Matadors claimed eight of the first 10 points in set two and held on after Northeastern pulled to within three in the latter stages of the set. The tables turned in the final set as the visitors bolted out to leads of 5-0 and 8-1. CSUN whittled away at the Huskies lead and eventually pulled even at 17 on another Markle ace.

The Matadors could not take the lead however until a Northeastern hitting error put CSUN in front 22-21. The run swelled to three straight as the Matadors closed the set and the match on a 5-1 run to seal the 3-0 win.

Athena Ardila led the Huskies (1-5) by matching Owens with 10 kills in .107 hitting.

CSUN returns to the road next week as the Matadors head to the San Francisco Bay Area to take on San Francisco, Fresno State and Saint Mary's.

#GoMatadors