California State University at Northridge
7-5,0-0Big West
The Master's University
1-0
The Master's Hands No. 16 CSUN a 3-0 Loss
2/9/2024 7:55:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
CSUN (7-5) had two hitters in double figures as senior Kyle Hobus put down a match-high 13 kills (.435) while fellow senior Griffin Walters added 11 kills (.389).Â
Each of CSUN's previous four losses this season have come against teams ranked in the AVCA/NVA Top-20 while the Mustangs were the top-ranked team in the most recent NAIA Coaches Top-15 Poll.
Both teams hit well throughout as The Master's wound up hitting .362 (33-8-69)Â as a team to CSUN's .359 (41-13-78). The Matadors had 41 team kills to the Mustangs' 33 and CSUN also out-blocked the visitors 5-2. The Matadors however committed 26 service errors while connecting for just a pair of aces, one each from Owen Douphner and Malcolm King.
HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
- The visitors opened the match by claiming six of the first seven points and never trailed in the set. A Donovan Constable kill capped a 6-3 run that cut the deficit to 10-8. A Walters kill pulled the Matadors within one at 15-14 but CSUN was outscored 5-2 over the next seven points to trail 20-16. The Matadors would get within three but couldn't get closer as the Mustangs closed out a 25-20 win.Â
- CSUN opened set two with a 3-1 run before Master's claimed four of the next five points to lead 5-4 when a Matador challenge was unsuccessful. Neither team would lead by more than two points until a Walters hitting error opened up a 21-18 Mustang lead. CSUN would trail by as many as four at 24-20 before saving three set points before the visitors pulled out the 25-23 win.
- Needing a win to stay in the match, CSUN quickly fell into a 7-1 hole and would never recover. A Walters kill capped a 6-3 Matador run that trimmed the deficit to 10-7, but The Master's responded with a 5-2 run to extend the lead to 15-9 at the media timeout. Lorenzo Bertozzi connected for a kill out of the break but CSUN would get no closer than four the remainder of the set.
ACCORDING TO COACHÂ THEO EDWARDSGot some work to do in the third set as freshman Owen Douphner chips away.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/goOnC8cTjl
— CSUN Men's Volleyball (@CSUNMensVB) February 10, 2024
"This was a tough match for us tonight. The Master's is a good team who is very experienced. We had some struggles from the service line and it ended up being the difference in the match. We have a good week of training ahead of us with a match against Hope international on Wednesday. We're looking forward to getting back on track."
UP NEXT
CSUNÂ continues its seven-match homestand next week as the Matadors welcome Hope International to Premier America Credit Union Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 6 p.m.
#GoMatadors
