California State University at Northridge
14-10,7-6Big West
Cal State Bakersfield
5-20,2-11Big West
CSUN Holds Off Cal State Bakersfield in Five-Set Thriller
11/5/2025 10:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Powered by four players with double figures in kills and clutch play down the stretch, CSUN edged Cal State Bakersfield 3–2 (25–27, 25–22, 20–25, 25–20, 16–14) in a Big West match on Wednesday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
With the win, the Matadors improved to 14–10 overall and 7–6 in Big West play, while the Roadrunners dropped to 5–20 and 2–11 in conference.
Junior outside hitter Julia Bazylevych overcame a slow start to lead CSUN with 17 kills (.250), while adding one solo block and two aces for a team-high 20 points Bazylevych also added 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Senior Leah Miller chipped in 13 kills (.343) and five blocks, while Hayley Ogden hit an efficient .545 with 14 kills on 22 swings. Iye Okolo also came up big at the net, recording six kills (.667) and a match-high seven blocks to help the Matadors finish with a 10-8 advantage in team blocks.
Setter Katie Kolar guided the offense with 33 assists and two aces, while Taylor Dunlap came off the bench to contribute 17 assists and four digs. CSUN libero Paige Sentes anchored the Matador defense with 19 digs.
After dropping a tight opening set 27–25, CSUN regrouped to take the second behind strong serving from Kolar and Bazylevych. The Matadors faltered in the third but dominated the fourth, hitting .405 as Bazylevych and Miller combined for 10 kills. In the decisive fifth, Ogden and Bazylevych delivered clutch kills to erase an early deficit, and Bazylevych sealed the win with a kill on a Dunlap assist.
For Bakersfield, Nicole Zake led all players with 26 kills, while Druegan Davis added 16 and Suelen Lima contributed 12.
CSUN outhit the Roadrunners .290 to .268 and posted a narrow 87–86 edge in total points in a match featuring 27 ties and 12 lead changes.
NOTES
- CSUN improves to 36-12 all-time against Cal State Bakersfield.
- The Matadors remain in sole possession of fifth place in the Big West at 7-6.
- With her 19 digs in the match, Sentes increased her career total to 1,108 digs.
- Freshman Saniyah Sobers made it three Matadors with double digit digs, scooping up 10 in the win.
HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA SAID
"Ultimately, the injury bug bit us this week, and I told the team that I need everything that you've got, so I'm really proud of them. You have to earn every point against Bakersfield, and their defense is among the best in the Big West. We knew it was going to take an effort, and the thing that I'm most proud of is that we've been able to go to our bench. It was a total team effort and came down to some close calls but really happy with the win."
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road for a single match, traveling to Honolulu to take on Hawai'i on Friday at 10 p.m. PT.
#GoMatadors
