Saturday, September 27
Santa Barbara, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
7-6,0-2Big West
1
at
3
UC Santa Barbara
10-4,2-0Big West
1
2
3
4
F
CSUN
25
22
25
21
1
UC Santa Barbara
22
25
27
25
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Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald
Smith's 16 Kills Not Enough as CSUN Drops 4-Set Decision at UCSB
9/27/2025 9:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Senior Amaris Smith tallied a team-high 16 kills, but CSUN fell short in a four-set battle against rival UC Santa Barbara in a Big West match Saturday night at the Thunderdome.
The Matadors (7-6, 0-2 Big West) claimed the opening set before the host Gauchos stormed back to claim the final three sets in a 22-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 win.
Smith hit .125 on 56 swings to go with nine digs, a career-high four aces, and one block for a match-best 20.5 points to pace the Matadors. Two other CSUN hitters notched seven kills as sophomore Hayley Ogden hit .312 on 16 attacks, and redshirt freshman Kyleigh Moore hit .200 on 25 swings. Ogden added three blocks while Moore also added three digs.
Setter Katie Kolar made her first start since Sept. 6 and recorded 26 assists and seven digs as the Matadors hit .150 as a team. Junior libero Paige Sentes posted a team-high 14 digs along with two aces and two assists. Senior Leah Miller chipped in six kills (.211) and five digs, and junior Iye Okolo was efficient with four kills on six swings to hit .667 in the loss
Despite being out-hit in set one, .220 to .146, the Matadors capitalized on some late UCSB errors to take the opening set 25-22. After the Gauchos took the second set by the same 25-22 score, CSUN nearly stole the third after rallying late, but the Gauchos (10-4, 2-0) held off multiple pushes to win 27-25 before closing the match, 25-21 in the fourth set.
CSUN finished with 44 kills on .150 hitting, while UCSB hit .258 with 68 kills, led by Gabi Martinez's 19. The Matadors held a 4-1 edge in team blocks, but the Gauchos out-dug CSUN 70-60 in a defensive battle.
The Matadors (7-6, 0-2 Big West) claimed the opening set before the host Gauchos stormed back to claim the final three sets in a 22-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 win.
Smith hit .125 on 56 swings to go with nine digs, a career-high four aces, and one block for a match-best 20.5 points to pace the Matadors. Two other CSUN hitters notched seven kills as sophomore Hayley Ogden hit .312 on 16 attacks, and redshirt freshman Kyleigh Moore hit .200 on 25 swings. Ogden added three blocks while Moore also added three digs.
Setter Katie Kolar made her first start since Sept. 6 and recorded 26 assists and seven digs as the Matadors hit .150 as a team. Junior libero Paige Sentes posted a team-high 14 digs along with two aces and two assists. Senior Leah Miller chipped in six kills (.211) and five digs, and junior Iye Okolo was efficient with four kills on six swings to hit .667 in the loss
Despite being out-hit in set one, .220 to .146, the Matadors capitalized on some late UCSB errors to take the opening set 25-22. After the Gauchos took the second set by the same 25-22 score, CSUN nearly stole the third after rallying late, but the Gauchos (10-4, 2-0) held off multiple pushes to win 27-25 before closing the match, 25-21 in the fourth set.
CSUN finished with 44 kills on .150 hitting, while UCSB hit .258 with 68 kills, led by Gabi Martinez's 19. The Matadors held a 4-1 edge in team blocks, but the Gauchos out-dug CSUN 70-60 in a defensive battle.
NOTES
- With 14 digs, Sentes (the Big West leader) now has double digits in digs in all 13 matches in 2025.
- CSUN slips to 6-2 in four-set matches this season.
HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA SAID
"We have to find a way to dig deep after a disappointing weekend and close out matches. While we know this was a missed opportunity to pick up a road win, we also know that it's early and not the end of the world. We have plenty of good ball in us, and we are hungry to showcase that next week, starting in the practice gym."
UP NEXT
CSUN concludes a three-match road swing to open Big West play next Thursday (Oct. 2) as the Matadors travel to Cal State Bakersfield before returning home on Oct. 4 to host Hawai'i at 6 p.m.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
UCSB
Kills
44
68
Errors
19
22
Attempts
167
178
Hitting %
.150
.258
Points
57.0
73.0
Assists
41
59
Aces
9
4
Blocks
4
1
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
4
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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