California State University at Northridge
2-5,0-0Big West
Nevada
5-2,0-0Mountain West
Nevada Defeats CSUN 3-0 in Riverside
9/13/2024 12:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Making her first start of the season, Julia Bazylevych put down a team-high 11 kills but the CSUN women's volleyball fell in straight sets to Nevada in the opening match of the CBU/UCR Challenge Friday morning at Van Dyne Gym.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 as CSUN slips to 2-5 on the season while the Wolf Pack improve to 5-2.
Appearing in just her third match of the season, Bazylevych had 11 kills and six errors on 23 swings to hit .217. She also added five digs, three blocks, and one ace which were all season highs. Junior Leah Miller added nine kills (.421) and four digs while Hailey Brockway chipped in eight kills (.154), four blocks, and a team-high two aces.
Both teams hit well in the match as Nevada hit .302 (41-12-96) to CSUN's .286 (36-12-84). The Wolf Pack had a sizable 10-4 edge in aces while the Matadors wound up with advantages in digs (37-33) and blocks (5-4).
SET 1: NEVADA 25, CSUN 22
The Matadors claimed seven of the first nine points to open the match as a pair of Nevada hitting errors gave CSUN an early 7-2 lead. A Brockway ace extended the Matador lead to 17-9 forcing a Wolf Pack timeout. CSUN would lead by as many as 10 at 20-10 following a Tatiana Turgeon kill before Nevada answered with a 6-1 run to force a Matador timeout at 21-16. Bazylevych's fifth kill of the set kept CSUN in front 22-17 when the Wolf Pack would close the set on an 8-0 run to take the set 25-22.
SET 2: NEVADA 25, CSUN 19
After hitting .219 in set one, the Matadors would hit a blistering .423 with a single hitting error in set two. The two teams played to a 7-7 tie when Nevada scored three straight before Brockway's kill ended the run. CSUN would climb back within one at 11-10 and again at 14-13 before Bazylevych and Turgeon stuffed a Wolf Pack attack tying the score at 14-14. Nevada then scored five straight points to open up a 19-14 cushion and the Matadors would only get within four the remainder of the set.
SET 3: NEVADA 25, CSUN 20
Leading 6-4 following a Taylor Dunlap ace, the Matadors were outscored 9-1 over the next 10 points as CSUN called timeout trailing 13-7. The Matadors rallied back to within two at 16-14 following kills from Bazylevych and Miller. CSUN was also within two at 22-20 when three straight kills by the Wolf Pack's Gabby McLaughlin sealed the 25-20 win.
NOTES
- Setter Katie Kolar narrowly missed her fifth double-double of the season, recording 27 assists and nine digs.
- Libero Paige Sentes led the Matadors with 11 digs.
- Bazylevych and Turgeon each posted a team-high three blocks.
- CSUN slipped to 3-6 all-time against Nevada.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA
"Frustrating that we can't string together solid starts and finishes. We started with a fire and sizzled out, and then when we had our backs against the wall we rose to the occasion, but ultimately it was too late. Meanwhile, Nevada was hard-working, together, and never stopped. The loss is the negative, the positive is that we got some other players some experience that will be valuable for this season down the stretch. We also get the weekend off to reset mentally and physically. I know that our team is so excited to bring our product home after opening the year with three straight travel trips. Our record does not define us right now, and you'll want to be there in person to watch us play in our home environment!"
UP NEXT
CSUN returns to Northridge to open the 2024 home season next Tuesday (Sept. 17) as the Matadors host California Baptist at Premier America Credit Union Arena. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will stream on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
