Friday, March 15
Long Beach, CA
11:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
3
vs
2
Nebraska
Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald
CSUN Tops Nebraska & Texas to Open Long Beach State Tournament
3/15/2024 5:47:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The CSUN beach volleyball team opened the Long Beach State Tournament with wins over Nebraska and Texas on Friday at the KLAC Beach Volleyball Complex. The Matadors (9-4) defeated the Huskers, 3-2 in the morning dual before topping the Longhorns later in the day by the identical 3-2 score.
CSUN 3, NEBRASKA 2
In just the fourth meeting between the two teams, CSUN won the first three pairs to clinch the win, before Nebraska claimed the final two pairs. Lauren Eknoian and Tasha Mae picked up the Matadors' first win, defeating Lexi Rodriguez and Lindsay Krause in straight sets, 21-12, 21-18. Abbey Sweeting and Taylor Buckley made it 2-0 CSUN with a 21-16, 21-12 victory over Maisie Boesiger and Andi Jackson in the No. 5 pair before Gabriela Griego and MayaMay Brown clinched CSUN's third win in four tries against the Huskers with a 21-13, 22-20 win in the No. 1 pair over Bergen Reilly and Ally Batenhorst.
Nebraska's No. 3 pair of Harper Murray and Olivia Mauch went three sets to knock off Maleya Miles and Kinley Lindhardt, 21-17, 19-21, 15-9. The Huskers also took the 4's as Skyler Pierce and Laney Choboy also went three sets to defeat Julia Bazylevych and Jillian Rodig, 16-21, 21-17, 16-14.
CSUN 3, TEXAS 2
In a see-saw battle in match two, the Matadors and Longhorns traded wins to open the dual. Griego and Brown picked up their second win on the day and ninth of the season by sweeping Ava Patton and Emma Grace Robertson, 21-13, 21-14 to open the scoring. Texas pulled even with a 21-18, 21-15 win in the No. 4 pair as Macey Butler and Kelly McCloskey topped Sweeting and Buckley.
Bazylevych and Rodig made it 2-1 CSUN with a 21-13, 23-21 win over Reilly Heinrich and Averi Carlson in the 5's, before Eknoian and Mae clinched the Matadors' ninth win of the season after sweeping Devin Kahahawai and Katie Hashman in the No. 2 pair, 21-19, 21-19. The Longhorns would claim the final pair as Presley Wright and Hannah Ogden went the distance to defeat Miles and Lindhardt in the No. 3 pair, 22-20, 21-23, 15-8.
COACH ARI HOMAYUN SAID
"Two great wins today! Both Nebraska and Texas are big and athletic and that can be intimidating to play against but the girls rose to the challenge. Our second was better than our first, just the overall level play. I'm glad the girls are able to step it up when they need to. Hopefully they get a good night's rest and are ready to battle tomorrow against a good Arizona State team and a legit Long Beach State team. Looking forward to some good volleyball on Saturday."
UP NEXT
The Matadors complete the tournament in Long Beach on Saturday, taking on No. 11 Arizona State at 11 a.m. and No. 7 Long Beach State at 1:15 p.m.
CSUN 3, NEBRASKA 2
#GoMatadors
CSUN 3, NEBRASKA 2
In just the fourth meeting between the two teams, CSUN won the first three pairs to clinch the win, before Nebraska claimed the final two pairs. Lauren Eknoian and Tasha Mae picked up the Matadors' first win, defeating Lexi Rodriguez and Lindsay Krause in straight sets, 21-12, 21-18. Abbey Sweeting and Taylor Buckley made it 2-0 CSUN with a 21-16, 21-12 victory over Maisie Boesiger and Andi Jackson in the No. 5 pair before Gabriela Griego and MayaMay Brown clinched CSUN's third win in four tries against the Huskers with a 21-13, 22-20 win in the No. 1 pair over Bergen Reilly and Ally Batenhorst.
Nebraska's No. 3 pair of Harper Murray and Olivia Mauch went three sets to knock off Maleya Miles and Kinley Lindhardt, 21-17, 19-21, 15-9. The Huskers also took the 4's as Skyler Pierce and Laney Choboy also went three sets to defeat Julia Bazylevych and Jillian Rodig, 16-21, 21-17, 16-14.
CSUN 3, TEXAS 2
In a see-saw battle in match two, the Matadors and Longhorns traded wins to open the dual. Griego and Brown picked up their second win on the day and ninth of the season by sweeping Ava Patton and Emma Grace Robertson, 21-13, 21-14 to open the scoring. Texas pulled even with a 21-18, 21-15 win in the No. 4 pair as Macey Butler and Kelly McCloskey topped Sweeting and Buckley.
Bazylevych and Rodig made it 2-1 CSUN with a 21-13, 23-21 win over Reilly Heinrich and Averi Carlson in the 5's, before Eknoian and Mae clinched the Matadors' ninth win of the season after sweeping Devin Kahahawai and Katie Hashman in the No. 2 pair, 21-19, 21-19. The Longhorns would claim the final pair as Presley Wright and Hannah Ogden went the distance to defeat Miles and Lindhardt in the No. 3 pair, 22-20, 21-23, 15-8.
COACH ARI HOMAYUN SAID
"Two great wins today! Both Nebraska and Texas are big and athletic and that can be intimidating to play against but the girls rose to the challenge. Our second was better than our first, just the overall level play. I'm glad the girls are able to step it up when they need to. Hopefully they get a good night's rest and are ready to battle tomorrow against a good Arizona State team and a legit Long Beach State team. Looking forward to some good volleyball on Saturday."
UP NEXT
The Matadors complete the tournament in Long Beach on Saturday, taking on No. 11 Arizona State at 11 a.m. and No. 7 Long Beach State at 1:15 p.m.
CSUN 3, NEBRASKA 2
#1. Griego/Brown (CSUN) def. Reily/Batenhorst (NEB), 21-13, 22-20
#2. Eknoian/Mae (CSUN) def. Rodriguez/Krause (NEB), 21-12, 21-18
#3. Murray/Mauch (NEB) def. Miles/Lindhardt (CSUN), 17-21, 21-17, 15-6
#4. Pierce/Choboy (NEB) def. Bazylevych/Rodig (CSUN), 16-21, 21-17. 16-14
#5. Buckley/Sweeting (CSUN) def. Boesiger/Jackson (NEB), 21-16, 21-12
#1. Griego/Brown (CSUN) def. Paton/Robertson (TEX), 21-13, 21-14
#2. Eknoian/Mae (CSUN) def. Kahahawai/Hashman (TEX), 21-19, 21-19
#3. Presley/Ogden (TEX) def. Miles/Lindhardt (CSUN), 22-20, 21-23, 15-8
#4. Butler/McCloskey (TEX) def. Buckley/Sweeting (CSUN), 21-18, 21-15
#5. Bazylevych/Coggins (CSUN) def. Topete/Speiski (TEX), 21-13, 23-21
#GoMatadors
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