California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
6-1,0-0Big West
Fort Valley State
1-5,0-0SIAC
#17 CSUN Wins Third Straight After Sweeping Fort Valley State
1/26/2026 7:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Junior Jalen Phillips led all players with 15 kills, leading No. 17 CSUN to a straight-set victory over Fort Valley State in a non-conference match on Monday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
CSUN (6-1) posted a dominant offensive performance, hitting a season-high .557 as a team and piling up 46 kills while committing just seven attack errors in the 25-16, 25-22, 25-14 win. Big West Setter of the Week Owen Douphner directed the Matadors' balanced attack with 35 assists, while also adding five kills on seven swings to hit .714.
Phillips set the tone early, helping CSUN jump out to a quick lead in the opening set before the Matadors used an 8-1 run behind a flurry of kills from Phillips, Joao Favarim, and Grayson Albers to open up a 19-12 cushion. CSUN hit .650 in the first set and sided out on 93 percent of its opportunities.
The second set proved more competitive, with Fort Valley State staying within striking distance, trailing 18-15 midway through. CSUN responded with a decisive run sparked by Phillips and Favarim, closing the set on a 5-1 surge to take a two-set lead.
The Matadors left little doubt in the third set, racing to an early 10-4 advantage and never looking back. CSUN hit .591 in the final frame and limited Fort Valley State to a .188 hitting percentage, finishing the match on Albers' eighth kill of the night.
Favarim finished with nine kills on .636 hitting, while Albers added eight kills (.667), and Jordan Lucas chipped in five (.364). Chris Karnezis led CSUN with six digs as the Matadors controlled the back row with a 16-12 advantage in team digs. Each team had 2.5 team blocks in the match, Phillips and Albers each posting a pair of block assists for the Matadors.
Grayson Albers completes the sweep!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/EOAbKw0PYN
— CSUN Men's Volleyball (@CSUNMensVB) January 27, 2026
HEAD COACH THEO EDWARDS SAID
"We've been talking about this a lot, Owen (Douphner) has been working on his offense and has really developed with his hitters, and the connections tonight were outstanding. Hitting .557 as a team is pretty impressive. Jalen (Phillips) had 15 kills and hit .650 on 20 swings. He was electric tonight, and I felt at times he was unstoppable. Jordan (Lucas) has injected some life and energy into the team, Grayson (Albers) has been productive in the middle, and our service pressure has come a long way, happy with the performance tonight."
UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up a three-match homestand this Friday at 6 p.m. as CSUN welcomes Edward Waters University to Premier America Credit Union Arena.
#GoMatadors
