Matadors Claim Friday's Finale at Big West Challenge

Friday, March 30

Folsom, Calif.

9:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

Cal Poly

Photo by: Braden Villanueva

Matadors Claim Friday's Finale at Big West Challenge

3/30/2018 9:43:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

FOLSOM, Calif. - The CSUN beach volleyball team fell to a pair of ranked teams early Friday before bouncing back for a 3-2 win over CSU Bakersfield to cap day one of the Big West Challenge at Livermore Community Park.

The Matadors, who have already set a program record with nine wins, improve to 10-4 with Friday's win over the Roadrunners.

CSUN's day began early Friday against sixth-ranked Cal Poly. The Matadors were blanked in all five matches against the Mustangs with Katie Sato and Aeryn Owens nearly pushing the No. 1 match to a third set. After dropping the first set 21-15 to Torrey Van Winden and Tiadors Miric, the CSUN duo battled in set two before falling 22-20.

Kristey Markle and Nickeisha Williams also fell in a tight match at No. 2 after Emily Sonny and Samantha Manley took a 21-17, 21-17 decision.

The day didn't get any easier for the Matadors in their next dual as No. 3 Hawai'i handed CSUN another 5-0 defeat.

Sato and Owens again battled through a two-set loss at No. 1, falling 21-17, 21-18 to Emily Maglio and Ka'iwi Schucht. Erin Indermill and Daniella Molinari lost by the score of 21-16, 21-18 at No. 4 as Hawai'i improved to 20-3 on the season.

Looking to salvage one dual on the day, the Matadors won at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 to edge CSU Bakersfield 3-2.

Sato and Owens defeated Sydney Haynes and Emily Hansen 21-15, 21-13 for their second win over the Roadrunner pair this season. Lauren McMurray and Autumn Russell won 21-14. 21-17 at No. 3 and CSUN clinched the dual after Indermill and Molinari came back to win a three-set thriller over Briannah Mariner and Aleksandra Djordjevic 18-21,.21-15, 15-10.

"We were battle tested today for sure but I'm pleased that we finished the day strong with a win," said CSUN head coach Noelle Rooke. "The Big West Challenge is always an ideal way to assure our team that we at least get a look at all or our conference opponents as we prepare of the Big West Tournament."

CSUN has two more matches Saturday as the Matadors take on No. 5 Long Beach State and the host Sacramento State Hornets.

#GoMatadors