California State University Northridge Athletics
Thursday, April 23
Irvine, Calif.
7:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
12-15,0-10Big West
1
vs
3
UC Irvine
18-7,5-5Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSUN | 20 | 25 | 16 | 23 | 1 |
| UC Irvine | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Big West Conference
CSUN Falls to UC Irvine in Four Sets in Big West Quarterfinals
4/23/2026 10:55:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. — Third-seeded CSUN saw its OUTGIGGER Big West Championship run end Thursday night with a four-set loss to No. 3-seeded UC Irvine, falling 25-20, 20-25, 25-16, 25-23 at the Bren Events Center.
CSUN (12-15) was led by opposite Jalen Phillips, who pounded a match-high 21 kills, hitting .311 on 45 swings. Phillips, who also matched his career-high with five aces, added six blocks and two digs.
Setter Owen Douphner led the Matador offense with 31 assists and added seven digs as CSUN finished with a .242 (39-16-95) team hitting percentage. Jordan Lucas added eight kills (.200) and Joao Favarim chipped in five (.375) for CSUN, which totaled 10 team blocks but was out-blocked 12.5-10.
After UCI out-hit CSUN .346 to .048 in taking the opening set (25-20), CSUN responded with its most efficient stretch of the night in the second. The Matadors hit .444 in the frame, committing just two errors on 27 swings, with Phillips fueling the surge as CSUN evened the match at one set apiece with a 25-20 win.
Momentum shifted in the third, where UC Irvine used a sizable run midway through the set. After a Lucas kill pulled the Matadors within 6-5, the Anteaters used a 7-1 run to open up a 13-6 advantage. CSUN was limited to just seven kills, while hitting just .091 in the set.
The fourth set featured 14 ties and six lead changes, reflecting the back-and-forth nature of the contest. CSUN rallied from a mid-set deficit behind a serving run from Phillips, who recorded four aces to give the Matadors a late edge. With the score tied at 20-20, UC Irvine outscored CSUN 5-3 down the stretch to seal the match.
UC Irvine (18-8), which hit .283 (50-20-106), was paced by Andrej Jokanovic's 13 kills and Trevor Clark's .526 hitting performance, with the Anteaters hitting .400 in the decisive fourth set.
CSUN POSTMATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
#GoMatadors
CSUN (12-15) was led by opposite Jalen Phillips, who pounded a match-high 21 kills, hitting .311 on 45 swings. Phillips, who also matched his career-high with five aces, added six blocks and two digs.
Setter Owen Douphner led the Matador offense with 31 assists and added seven digs as CSUN finished with a .242 (39-16-95) team hitting percentage. Jordan Lucas added eight kills (.200) and Joao Favarim chipped in five (.375) for CSUN, which totaled 10 team blocks but was out-blocked 12.5-10.
After UCI out-hit CSUN .346 to .048 in taking the opening set (25-20), CSUN responded with its most efficient stretch of the night in the second. The Matadors hit .444 in the frame, committing just two errors on 27 swings, with Phillips fueling the surge as CSUN evened the match at one set apiece with a 25-20 win.
Momentum shifted in the third, where UC Irvine used a sizable run midway through the set. After a Lucas kill pulled the Matadors within 6-5, the Anteaters used a 7-1 run to open up a 13-6 advantage. CSUN was limited to just seven kills, while hitting just .091 in the set.
The fourth set featured 14 ties and six lead changes, reflecting the back-and-forth nature of the contest. CSUN rallied from a mid-set deficit behind a serving run from Phillips, who recorded four aces to give the Matadors a late edge. With the score tied at 20-20, UC Irvine outscored CSUN 5-3 down the stretch to seal the match.
UC Irvine (18-8), which hit .283 (50-20-106), was paced by Andrej Jokanovic's 13 kills and Trevor Clark's .526 hitting performance, with the Anteaters hitting .400 in the decisive fourth set.
CSUN POSTMATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
Irvine
Kills
39
50
Errors
16
20
Attempts
95
106
Hitting %
.242
.283
Points
56.0
72.5
Assists
37
48
Aces
7
10
Blocks
10
12.5
Game Leaders
Kills
21
Aces
5
Blocks
6
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballOH
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball2026 CSUN Athletics Giving Day
Friday, February 13
2026 CSUN Men's Volleyball Hype Video
Saturday, January 24
2025 CSUN Women's Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, December 11
2025-26 CSUN Men's Basketball Hype Video
Thursday, December 11