Friday, August 31
Northridge, Calif.
6:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
2-2
3
vs
0
North Texas
3-2
1
2
3
F
North Texas
19
20
14
0
CSUN
25
25
25
3
Team Stats
UNT
CSUN
Kills
27
39
Errors
26
10
Attempts
109
101
Hitting %
.009
.287
Points
32.0
49.0
Assists
25
37
Aces
2
2
Blocks
3.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballPhoto by: Paul Trafecanty
Matadors Dispatch North Texas in Straight Sets in Home Opener
8/31/2018 8:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Behind a match-high 18 kills from senior Aeryn Owens, the CSUNÂ Matadors got the 2018 home season off to an impressive start with a straight set (25-19, 25-20, 25-14) victory over North Texas Friday night in The Matadome.
The Matadors (2-2), who never trailed in the match, claim their home opener for the second consecutive season and are now unbeaten in four CSUN/Pepperdine Challenge matches dating back to last year.
The Mean Green, who came in hitting over .300 as team and had not been swept in 41 consecutive matches, committed 26 hitting errors and were limited to a .009 hitting clip as the hosts put up 8.0 team blocks. On the offensive end, the Matadors wound up committing just 10 hitting errors while connecting for a season-high .287 (39-10-101) percentage.
"Offensively we played very well and defensively we played extremely well," said CSUNÂ Head Coach Jeff Stork. "We kept them to a very low hitting percentage and offensively we were good but we could still be better. Our first touch could still be better too but I was really proud of the way the ladies handled themselves in a new situation."
In addition to Owens' 18 kills on .389 hitting, freshman Lexi McLeod reached double figures with 10 kills (.391) to go with seven digs and one ace. The CSUN setting tandem of Hannah Merjil and Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker handed out a combined 37 assists with Merjil also adding four digs and her co-team leading sixth ace.
Junior Morgan Salone had three kills on .429 hitting but was a force at the next with three solo blocks and five total stuffs. Sophomore Daniella Molinari came off the bench to record a pair of kills and three blocks.
The Matadors opened the match by claiming eight of the first nine points and never looked back. A co-block from Molinari and Owens put the hosts up 12-3 before a 6-2 Mean Green run forced a CSUN timeout at 14-9. The visitors pulled within four points on four occasions down the stretch, the last at 23-19, before Salone's kill capped a 2-0 run to end the set 25-19.
Merjil's ace gave the Matadors an 8-4 lead early in set two. Still leading by four at 10-6, North Texas outscored CSUN 6-2 over the next eight points to knot the score at 12-12. A McLeod kill kept the Mean Green from taking its first lead and with the score also tied at 13, the Matadors opened things up with a 4-0 run. CSUN eventually opened up a five-point cushion (19-14) when North Texas was whistled for a setting error.Â
The visitors would not go away however and a late 4-0 run trimmed the Matador lead down to two on a pair of occasions, but CSUNÂ rebounded to win the final three points of the match to ensure the 3-0 win.
Valerie Valerian led the Mean Green (3-2) with seven kills (.054) while Jordyn Williams chipped in five kills.
CSUNÂ continues CSUN/Pepperdine Challenge play tomorrow evening, hosting Idaho at 5 p.m. The Matadors complete the tournament Sunday at Pepperdine at 2 p.m.
#GoMatadors
The Matadors (2-2), who never trailed in the match, claim their home opener for the second consecutive season and are now unbeaten in four CSUN/Pepperdine Challenge matches dating back to last year.
The Mean Green, who came in hitting over .300 as team and had not been swept in 41 consecutive matches, committed 26 hitting errors and were limited to a .009 hitting clip as the hosts put up 8.0 team blocks. On the offensive end, the Matadors wound up committing just 10 hitting errors while connecting for a season-high .287 (39-10-101) percentage.
"Offensively we played very well and defensively we played extremely well," said CSUNÂ Head Coach Jeff Stork. "We kept them to a very low hitting percentage and offensively we were good but we could still be better. Our first touch could still be better too but I was really proud of the way the ladies handled themselves in a new situation."
In addition to Owens' 18 kills on .389 hitting, freshman Lexi McLeod reached double figures with 10 kills (.391) to go with seven digs and one ace. The CSUN setting tandem of Hannah Merjil and Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker handed out a combined 37 assists with Merjil also adding four digs and her co-team leading sixth ace.
Junior Morgan Salone had three kills on .429 hitting but was a force at the next with three solo blocks and five total stuffs. Sophomore Daniella Molinari came off the bench to record a pair of kills and three blocks.
The Matadors opened the match by claiming eight of the first nine points and never looked back. A co-block from Molinari and Owens put the hosts up 12-3 before a 6-2 Mean Green run forced a CSUN timeout at 14-9. The visitors pulled within four points on four occasions down the stretch, the last at 23-19, before Salone's kill capped a 2-0 run to end the set 25-19.
Merjil's ace gave the Matadors an 8-4 lead early in set two. Still leading by four at 10-6, North Texas outscored CSUN 6-2 over the next eight points to knot the score at 12-12. A McLeod kill kept the Mean Green from taking its first lead and with the score also tied at 13, the Matadors opened things up with a 4-0 run. CSUN eventually opened up a five-point cushion (19-14) when North Texas was whistled for a setting error.Â
The visitors would not go away however and a late 4-0 run trimmed the Matador lead down to two on a pair of occasions, but CSUNÂ rebounded to win the final three points of the match to ensure the 3-0 win.
Valerie Valerian led the Mean Green (3-2) with seven kills (.054) while Jordyn Williams chipped in five kills.
CSUNÂ continues CSUN/Pepperdine Challenge play tomorrow evening, hosting Idaho at 5 p.m. The Matadors complete the tournament Sunday at Pepperdine at 2 p.m.
#GoMatadors
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