Matadors Top CSU Bakersfield, Split Final Home Tri-Dual

Thursday, April 12

Northridge, Calif.

11:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

Matadors Top CSU Bakersfield, Split Final Home Tri-Dual

4/12/2018 6:21:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

CSU Bakersfield-CSUN Box Score // LMU-CSUN Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Battling strong winds in the San Fernando Valley Thursday, the CSUN beach volleyball team gained a split its final home tri-dual, defeating CSU Bakersfield (3-2) before falling to No. 16 Loyola Marymount (4-1) at the Matador Beach Volleyball Facility.

The split improves the Matadors to 14-6 on the season, CSUN also improves its home record to 9-3.

The opening dual of the day saw the Matadors take on CSU Bakersfield, a team they had defeated twice already this season. The visiting Roadrunners earned the first two points of the dual, winning at No. 2 and No. 4 in the opening flight.

CSUN's only win in the first session came in the No. 6 match as Shawnee De Oliveira and Cassidy Rosso defeated Sidney Wicks and Brooke Boiseau 21-15, 21-7. The Matadors got on the board in the No. 1 match as Katie Sato and Aeryn Owens swept Sydney Haynes and Emily Hansen 21-18, 21-14.

CSUN evened the dual at No. 3 behind Lauren McMurray and Autumn Russell's 21-17, 22-20 victory over Aleksandra Djordevic and Briannah Mariner. That set up a winner take all in the No. 5 contest as Nicolette Pinkney and Lauren Conati came back to win the final two sets after dropping the opener. CSUB's Krista Hernandez and Ally Barber took set one 22-20 before Pinkney and Conati claimed the second set 21-16. With the winds coming more into play, the CSUN pair bolted out to a 14-7 lead before winning 15-8.

No. 16 Loyola Marymount swept the Roadrunners in the middle dual 5-0 setting up a rematch between the Matadors and Lions.

Two of the scoring matches went three sets between the two teams, unfortunately for the Matadors both decisions went to LMU. Three of the other matches also went to the Lions in straight sets.

McMurray and Russell won for the 12th time this season, picking up CSUN's lone win in the No. 3 match with a sweep over Maddie Leiphardt and Bozeno Culo 21-16, 21-16.

Sato and Owens went three sets with LMU's No. 1 Savannah Slattery and McKayla Ferris for the second time this season before falling 21-12, 18-21, 15-12. Erin Indermill and Daniella Molinari also went three at No. 4 before ultimately falling to Emma Doud and Chloe Reinig by the score of 21-17, 17-21, 15-12.

"I really thought we were in the battle this time against LMU, the result was the same but I thought we were right there," said CSUN head coach Noelle Rooke. "Knowing the two matches that went three sets didn't go our way, this could have been a 3-2 win instead of a 4-1 loss. This says to me that we're getting better and I'm really proud of the team for battling in the conditions and getting the win over Bakersfield."

CSUN caps the home season next Thursday, Apr. 19 as the Matadors host Cal State LA in a single match at 11 a.m.

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