California State University at Northridge
Denver
Matadors Open 2021 Season at USC's Trojan Invitational
8/25/2021 9:38:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CSUNÂ THIS WEEK - TROJAN INVITATIONAL
MATCH #1
CSUN Matadors (0-0) vs. Denver Pioneers (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 27, 2021Â - 10:30Â a.m. PDT
Galen Center - Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stats // Watch
MATCH #2
CSUN Matadors (0-0) vs. Campbell Camels (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 27, 2021Â - 5:00 p.m. PDT
Galen Center - Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stats // Watch
Â
MATCH #3
CSUN Matadors (0-0) at USC Trojans (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 27, 2021Â - 7:30Â p.m. PDT
Galen Center - Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stats // Watch
In-game Twitter updates:Â @CSUNWVB
FORÂ STARTERS
The CSUN women's volleyball team (0-0, 0-0 Big West) opens the 2021 season this Friday (Aug. 27) as the Matadors will play the first of three matches in Los Angeles at USC's Trojan Invitational. CSUN meets Denver (0-0) in its season-opener on Friday which will also be the opening match of the tournament. The Matadors then take on Campbell (0-0) Friday at 5 p.m., before wrapping up the tournament against host USC (0-0) Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
FOLLOW YOUR MATADORS
Follow CSUN Matador women's volleyball on-line at the official home of CSUN athletics, www.GoMatadors.com. All home matches will feature live stats and will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan handling the play-by-play. Darren Preston will handle the internet radio call for all home matches. For road matches, related links to the match, including for any live stats, audio and video, will be posted before the match on the women's volleyball schedule page of GoMatadors.com.Â
Fans are also encouraged to check the CSUN Athletics Department's official Twitter feed (@GoMatadors) and the volleyball-specific feed (@CSUNWVB) for news and notes throughout the week as well as updates of matches in progress.
SCOUTING THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
Denver (0-0) was picked second in the 2021 Summit League Preseason Poll. The Pioneers received four first-place votes among the coaches in the poll. Denver heads into the 2021 season after posting a 14-3 record last spring, highlighted by capturing the regular-season title and posting the first undefeated road record in program history. Setter Ellie Anderson and middle Brianna Green both earned first-team All-Summit League honors last season.
Series: CSUN and Denver have met once previously when the Matadors topped the Pioneers in four sets (25-18, 21-25, 28-26, 25-13) in Denver.
Campbell (0-0) was picked second in the Big South preseason coaches poll, matching last season's conference finish. That marks the Camels' highest selection since rejoining the Big South conference in 2011. The Fighting Camels topped Liberty, 3-1 in an exhibition match last Saturday. Junior outside Lailah Green and sophomore DS Claranne Fechter were both named to the preseason all-conference team.Â
Series: Friday's match is the first-ever meeting between the Matadors and Camels.
USC (0-0), receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 Preseason Poll, was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 standings in a preseason poll of the Pac-12's head coaches, collecting 74 points in the poll. Senior All-American outside hitter Brooke Botkin was named to the 2021 Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference Team. Botkin is a two-time All-Pac-12 performer (2018, '20) and earned AVCA All-America second-team honors as a sophomore in 2018.
Series: Saturday's match is the 25th all-time between the Matadors and Trojans. USC has won 23 of the previous 24 meetings with CSUN's lone win coming in 1983 when the Matadors swept USC during a tournament at Cal State Fullerton. CSUN last met the Trojans in 2013 when USC swept the Matadors in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Galen Center.
FIRST MATCH IN 585 DAYS
Friday's match against Denver marks CSUN's first on-court competition in 585 calendar days. The last time the Matadors stepped on the court for a regular season match was Nov. 21, 2019 when CSUN dropped its season finale at 18th-ranked Hawai'i. The Matadors did not compete during the spring 2021 season.
MATADORS RETURN OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Despite not playing the 2020 season, CSUN returns a majority of its offensive firepower from the 2019 campaign. Senior Seyvion Waggoner led the Matadors in 2019, averaging a team-high 3.32 kills per set with 335 kills in earning honorable mention All-Big West honors. Fellow seniors Nicole Nevarez (285 kills, 2.77 kps) and Lexi McLeod (140 kills, 1.31 kps) also return as does sophomore Taylor Orshoff. Orshoff ranked third on the team in 2019, putting down 170 kills while averaging 2.18 kills per set as a true freshman. McLeod, Nevarez and senior Makayla Bradford also led the Matadors from the service line, combining for 67 of CSUN's 122 aces in 2019. Sophomore Lauryn Anderson added 14 aces as a freshman.
PLENTY OF NEW FACES ON 2021 ROSTER
Only eight of the 15 players on the 2021 CSUN roster were on the team when the 2019 season concluded. The Matadors will look to a host of newcomers to handle the setting duties in 2021 as Carisa Barron and Madison Klungel will each make her collegiate debut this week. With the pin hitters solidified with returners, CSUN will also look to replace Morgan Salone and Hayden Warnock at the middle blocker spots. Anderson, who hit .276 on 134 swings in 2019, will likely team up with redshirt freshman Taylor Hunter to form the CSUN middle attack. Anderson also added 33 blocks as a freshman while Bradford was also a defensive stalwart in 2019, scooping up a team-high 390 digs (3.64 dps).
In addition to Barron and Klungel, newcomers to the 2021 roster include Abigail Macias (MB), Elizabeth Gannon (DS), Nieko Thomas (MB), Layla Cederlind (DS) and Simone Wright (OH).
TERRUSA NAMED CSUN'S INTERIM HEAD COACH
Long-time Matador assistant coach Susie Terrusa became just the seventh head coach in the program's 45-year history when she was named interim head coach on Sept. 18, 2020. She follows in the footsteps of former colleague Jeff Stork, who announced his retirement the day before. Terrusa and Stork worked side-by-side for 18 years guiding the Matadors on the volleyball court.
Terrusa, who was promoted to associate head coach in 2018, completed her 21st season as the program's top assistant coach in 2019. She was instrumental in the Matadors advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2013 while posting 24 wins, the most by a Matador team since 1996. This marks Terrusa's second stint as CSUN's interim head coach. She was also appointed to the role on Dec. 18, 2001, after the resignation of Dr. Lian Lu, and served in that capacity until March 15, 2002. As the interim head coach, she continued the Matadors' recruiting efforts and served as the scheduling coordinator. Under Stork, she has served as recruiting coordinator and has also assisted with the daily practice routine, fundraising, community outreach and game coaching.Â
LOOKING AHEAD
After opening the season with three matches at USC's Trojan Invitational, the Matadors will continue tournament play next week in Fresno. CSUN will play just a pair of matches at the Fresno State Invitational, taking on the host Bulldogs Friday (Sept. 3) Friday before meeting Loyola Marymount Saturday at 5 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
