California State University at Northridge
5-6,0-0Big West
Portland
7-3,0-0WCC
CSUN Defeats Portland, 3-1 to Sweep Two-Match Series
9/21/2024 6:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The CSUN women's volleyball team improved to 3-1 at home with a four-set (25-18, 24-26, 25-19, 25-14) non-conference victory over Portland Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
CSUN finished with three wins in a four-match week, the only loss coming in five-sets to Washington State on Thursday. The Matadors, who will open Big West play with a 5-6 record, claimed both matches with the Pilots who came to the Valley with a 7-1 record this season.
On Saturday, four CSUN hitters reached double figures in kills led by Leah Miller who tied for match-high honors with 14 kills. Miller hit .189 on 37 swings to go with four digs and a pair of blocks. Hailey Brockway added 12 kills (.162) and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Iye Okolo and Amaris Smith each chipped in 10 kills with Okolo hitting a team-high .389 on 18 attacks.
Okolo also tied for team-high honors with four blocks, as did fellow middle Tatiana Turgeon, as CSUN posted an 8-6 advantage in team blocks. Setter Katie Kolar registered 44 assists, seven digs, and one ace as the Matadors out-hit Portland .214 to .119. Libero Paige Sentes wrapped up an impressive week with a match-high 22 digs along with six assists and three aces.
S1 l CSUN 25, UP 18
The Matadors outscored the Pilots 6-2 to open the match before the visitors battled back to tie the set at 16-16. A Portland service error and a Brockway ace opened up an 18-16 lead. Turgeon's kill kept the lead at two (19-17) while propelling CSUN on a set-clinching 7-1 run the closed out a 25-18 win.
Five straight points to take set one!
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@csunwomensvb) September 21, 2024
Leah Miller picks up her fifth kill to put CSUN up 1-0.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/0qzRdcc53V
S2 l UP 26, CSUN 24
Portland got the jump in set two, leading 7-4 following a Pilot kill. CSUN would claim eight of the next 14 points to close to within one at 13-12 when a Portland attack went long. A late 4-0 run would pull the Matadors even at 19-19 when two straight Portland points forced a timeout. The Matadors answered with a 2-0 to knot the score which remained tied at 24-24 when a CSUN service error and a Pilot kill sent Portland to the 26-24 win.
S3 l CSUN 25, UP 19
With set three tied at 15-15, an Okolo kill and a Portland hitting error opened up a mini 17-15 lead. The Matadors would maintain a two-point lead at 19-17 following a Sentes ace and CSUN would outscore Portland 6-2 down the stretch to take a 2-1 lead following the 25-19 decision.
Set three is OURS!
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@csunwomensvb) September 21, 2024
Katie Kolar leaves no doubt as CSUN pulls ahead 2-1.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/5rt0oZWiIv
S4 l CSUN 25, UP 14
The final set was all Matadors as CSUN limited the visitors to -.100 hitting. Leading 6-5, the Matadors claimed 10 of the next 13 points to open up an eight-point cushion at 16-8. Another Sentes ace out of a Pilot timeout boosted the lead to 17-8 and the Matadors would win going away 25-14.
CSUN WINS!
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@csunwomensvb) September 21, 2024
A dominant fourth set (25-14) clinches it. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/HvWuzqP2rp
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA
"It's always hard to beat a team the second time, especially when the first match is a nail-biter. The fashion in which we did it today, I'm really proud of our team. We have given up a lot of big runs to let teams back into matches and although we were beat up we didn't take our foot off the gas today. I'm glad we're feeling confident going into conference play and I'm glad we get to play two really good teams (Cal Poly, UCSB) at home next week."
UP NEXT
CSUN opens up the 2024 Big West season next week as the Matadors welcome Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara to Premier America Credit Union Arena. CSUN hosts Cal Poly on Friday ay 6 p.m., before concluding its six-match homestand against the Gauchos on Saturday at 5 p.m.
#GoMatadors
