California State University at Northridge
1-3,0-0Big West
Fresno State
1-3,0-0Mountain West
CSUN Sweeps Fresno State in Home Opener
8/30/2023 9:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The CSUN women's volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2023 season Wednesday night as the Matadors swept Fresno State, 25-19, 25-21, 27-25 in a non-conference match at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
CSUN (1-3) was led by middle blocker Taylor Hunter who was virtually unstoppable in the match with 10 kills on .600 hitting. Hunter connected for 10 kills with a single hitting error on 15 swings in the match while also adding a match-high five blocks including three solo stuffs. Outside hitter Taylor Orshoff added eight kills (.240), six digs and four blocks while Leah Miller chipped in seven kills (.250) and one dig.
For the match, CSUN hit a season-high .321 while limiting the visiting Bulldogs to a .207 team hitting clip.
SET 1: CSUN 25, FRESNO STATE 19
After trailing 8-4 in the early going, CSUN used a 10-6 run, capped by a Bulldog service error, to tie the score at 14-14. A co-block by Orshoff and Tatiana Turgeon gave the Matadors their first lead of the set (15-14) and would fuel a 3-0 run that put CSUN in front to stay. The Matadors would lead by as many as six at 24-18 which would also be the final margin.
SET 2: CSUN 25, FRESNO STATE 21
The Bulldogs took an early 2-1 lead before CSUN scored four of the next six points to take the lead for good at 5-4. With the score tied at 9-9, a Turgeon kill sent the Matadors on a 3-0 run which opened up a 12-9 cushion. Fresno State stayed within one at 18-17 when CSUN claimed seven of the final 11 points of the set.
Make that ?? kills for Taylor Hunter so far.
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@CSUNWVB) August 31, 2023
CSUN leads 19-17 and 2-0 overall. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/EVNHt1Y4Ye
SET 3: CSUN 27, FRESNO STATE 25
The final set was the tightest of the match, featuring 15 ties and six lead changes. The two teams played to a 16-16 tie when used a pair of Hunter kills to open up a 19-17 lead. After Miller's kill put CSUN in front 23-20, the Bulldogs rallied for four straight points to take a 24-23 lead following a call reversal on a CSUN touch. But Perri Starkey saved set point with a kill and CSUN would claim three of the final four points to win 27-25.
How did Kelsey Knudsen keep this alive?! ??
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@CSUNWVB) August 31, 2023
On the verge of a set three victory.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/JJVPdsyXDc
NOTES
- Graduate transfer libero Kelsey Knudsen led all players in the match with 13 digs.
- CSUN setters Carisa Barron and Taylor Dunlap combined for 39 assists with Barron adding nine kills (.389) and seven digs.
- The win snapped a two-match losing streak for CSUN against Fresno State as the Matadors improved to 16-10 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Coach Price's postgame thoughts.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/E4FFUmOQX8
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@CSUNWVB) August 31, 2023
ACCORDING TO COACH JOHN PRICE
"Very excited that we played so well tonight. We were close last weekend, we went 0-3 but two of the matches went five and the other match was tight too. It was a little frustrating to losing close matches last weekend so to come out here and win a close match against a good team it was nice to see the team come out and play hard and play well."
UP NEXT
CSUN completes the two-match set with Fresno State this Friday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno at 6 p.m. The match will stream on the Mountain West Network.
#GoMatadors
