California State University at Northridge
4-1,0-0Big West
Purdue Fort Wayne
2-2,0-0MIVA
CSUN Closes UA Challenge With 3-1 Win Over Purdue Fort Wayne
1/17/2026 4:37:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
After surviving a marathon 35-33 first set, the Matadors took control by hitting .336 for the match and posting a blistering .647 attack percentage in the fourth set to close it out. CSUN improved to 4-1 on the season, while Purdue Fort Wayne dropped to 2-2.
In his first collegiate start, freshman Noah Douphner led CSUN with 17 kills, adding steady production in all four sets. Sophomore Joao Avila was highly efficient with 12 kills on .533 hitting, and redshirt freshman Grayson Albers chipped in 11 kills while hitting .583. Junior Jordan Lucas added 12 kills and 14.5 points, including timely kills and a service ace during the extended opening set.
CSUN setter Owen Douphner orchestrated the offense with 53 assists, directing an attack that committed just 18 errors on 107 swings. The Matadors also held Purdue Fort Wayne to a .164 hitting percentage, helped by 10.5 total team blocks and consistent pressure at the net.
The opening set featured 22 tie scores and seven lead changes before CSUN finally broke through, using a late run to escape with the 35-33 win. The Matadors carried that momentum into the second set, racing out to an early lead and never looking back in a 25-17 decision.
Purdue Fort Wayne answered in the third, edging CSUN 26-24 despite the Matadors holding a late advantage. CSUN responded emphatically in the fourth, siding out on 94% and pulling away down the stretch to secure the match.
HEAD COACH THEO EDWARDS SAID
"I thought it was a good performance today. We had a few guys injured before the match, and had Grayson (Albers) and Noah (Douphner) play some roles that they hadn't been in much this season. Both played terrific, and it was nice to see them step up. Both Chris (Karnezis) and Jordan (Lucas) haven't been starters so far this year, but both came in and brought a ton of energy and controlled the tempo of the match. Owen (Douphner) has been learning night in and night out, and playing back-to-back matches on the road is tough, but I felt like he found a rhythm with his brother. It was nice to see."
UP NEXT
CSUN returns to Northridge to open the 2026 home season on Wednesday (Jan. 21) against Long Island at 6 p.m. The match will stream live on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
