California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
11-13,7-7Big West
UC Riverside
4-21,0-14Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Riverside | 25 | 23 | 12 | 32 | 8 | 2 |
| CSUN | 22 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 15 | 3 |
11/7/2026 8:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Fallyn Blotzer and Hailey Brockway each pounded a match-high 21 kills as CSUN Women's Volleyball rallied from an early deficit and outlasted UC Riverside, 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-12, 30-32, 15-8), in a Big West match on Saturday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
The Matadors improved to 11-13 overall and evened their Big West record at 7-7, earning their second straight win after a marathon match that lasted two hours and 32 minutes.
Blotzer and Brockway had similar stat lines as each hit .286 with Brockway taking 56 swings while Blotzer taking 49. Both players also had 16 digs, while Blotzer two service aces and three blocks. Tatiana Turgeon delivered an efficient performance with 12 kills on 22 attacks for a .409 hitting percentage. Iye Okolo chipped in 10 kills on .471 hitting and Audrey Nuckols finished with eight kills (.217) and three block assists.
Katie Kolar had an impressive all-around match with 38 assists, 12 digs, and five aces as CSUN finished the match with a .297 team hitting percentage, 76 kills, nine aces and nine total team blocks. The Matadors also held a 76-61 advantage in digs.
CSUN responded to dropping the opening set by controlling the third, hitting .387 while limiting the Highlanders to a .029 attack percentage. The Matadors then finished the match with a dominant fifth-set performance, hitting .357 and scoring seven kills to secure the win. CSUN libero Paige Sentes matched Blotzer and Brockway for match-high honors with 16 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Riverside claimed the opening set after overcoming a late CSUN push. The Matadors built a 10-7 lead behind kills from Brockway and Blotzer, but the Highlanders answered with an 11-6 run to take an 18-16 lead. CSUN later regained a 20-18 advantage, only to see Riverside close the set on a 7-2 run as Andrea Brewer finished the frame with a kill to give the Highlanders a 25-22 win.
CSUN responded in the second set after Riverside took an early 5-3 lead, the Matadors used kills from Brockway, Blotzer and Turgeon to build a 15-10 advantage. The Highlanders rallied to within 20-18, but CSUN held off the comeback. Brockway's kill set up CSUN with set point at 24-21, and UCR saved a pair of set points before attack error allowed the Matadors to even the match at one set apiece, 25-23.
The third set belonged to CSUN from the start. The Matadors jumped out to a 9-2 lead and never trailed. Brockway recorded consecutive kills during the early run, while Kolar served two aces late in the set, helping CSUN extend its lead to 22-11 before the Matadors closed out a 25-12 victory.
Riverside forced a deciding set with a dramatic fourth-set win. CSUN opened the frame trailing 3-2, then took an 8-4 lead following a kill and ace from Blotzer. The Highlanders rallied to take a 14-13 lead and later moved ahead 17-14. CSUN answered with a 3-0 run to tie score at 17-17 and eventually saved three set points to again tie the score at 24-24. The teams traded points deep into extra play, with CSUN taking a 30-29 lead, but Riverside scored the final three points to win 32-30.
The Matadors controlled the fifth set after a tight opening. With the score tied at 5-5, CSUN gained separation behind kills from Brockway and Turgeon, along with a service ace from Kolar. Kolar added another ace to make it 10-6, and CSUN extended the advantage to 13-7. Blotzer then delivered the final kill before a Riverside attack error, giving the Matadors the 15-8 deciding-set victory.
UC Riverside, which fell to 4-20 overall and 0-13 in conference play, was led by Andrea Brewer's 18 kills and Casi Doll's 17 kills.
HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA SAID
"Ultimately we're at the point where getting the win is the most important thing, not the fashion in which it happens. They showed unity in the fifth set, supporting each other after a heartbreaking fourth set loss. Starting with myself, we talked about doing extra off the court right now; extra film, rest, and good nutrition. I have to find a way to help them close out sets, but I'm so proud of how they stuck together when things weren't perfect. Truly a special group I feel lucky to be around."
UP NEXT
CSUN plays its final two road matches of the regular season next week as the Matadors travel to UC Irvine (Nov. 13) and UC San Diego (Nov. 14).
#GoMatadors
