California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
0-2,0-0Big West
Denver
2-0,0-0WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 25 | 22 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
| CSUN | 20 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
CSUN Takes Denver to the Limit Before Falling in Five Sets
8/29/2026 4:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. - CSUN pushed Denver to the limit on Saturday at the CU Events Center, but the Matadors came up just short in a five-set battle, falling 25-20, 22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-11.
Senior Julia Bazylevych led the Matadors (0-2) with 19 kills on 59 swings (.254) and added 11 digs for her 10th career double-double. Audrey Nuckols added 11 kills (.182) and six block assists, while Fallyn Blotzer finished with nine kills (.079) and eight digs. Senior middle Iye Okolo was a force at the net, adding seven kills (.261) along with a match and career-high 14 blocks including three solo stuffs.
Katie Kolar directed CSUN with 29 assists, chipping in 11 digs and an ace for her 23rd career double-double. Fellow setter Jan Marie Duhaylungsod added 16 assists, seven digs and an ace, while Paige Sentes anchored the back row with a team-high 20 digs, five assists, and one ace.
The Matadors answered deficits twice, taking the second and fourth sets to extend the match, and finished with a strong defensive effort at the net. CSUN totaled 20.0 team blocks (fifth-best single-match total in CSUN's Rally Scoring era) and held Denver to a .170 hitting percentage, but the Pioneers produced 68 kills and edged out the final set to improve to 2-0 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After dropping the opening set, CSUN responded in the second behind its block. The Matadors built momentum midway through the frame with Okolo involved in a series of Denver attack errors, then used a late push to even the match. Blotzer closed the set with a kill to give CSUN a 25-22 win.
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Blotzer connects on set point!#CSUN has its first set win of the season and we're all tied at 1-set apiece from Boulder#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/ZpYw1mDh48
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@csunwomensvb) August 29, 2026
The third set was the tightest of the afternoon, featuring nine ties and three lead changes. CSUN hit .267 in the frame and battled into extra points before Denver slipped away with a 26-24 decision.
Facing elimination in the fourth, the Matadors delivered another answer. Bazylevych took over with six kills on nine swings in the set, and CSUN hit .171 while limiting Denver to .103. The Matadors held off the Pioneers late to claim the set, 25-22, and force a fifth.
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Bazylevych puts down her team-high 16th kill on set point and we're heading to a 5th set in Boulder#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/frGItPJACB
— CSUN Women's Volleyball (@csunwomensvb) August 29, 2026
CSUN jumped ahead 3-2 in the deciding set after kills from Nuckols and Bazylevych, but Denver used a mid-set run to take control. The Matadors pulled within 13-11 on a Bazylevych kill before the Pioneers scored the final two points to seal the match.
Denver was led by Alicia Thibodeau, who posted 23 kills and 26 digs, while Kayla Patel added 17 kills and 20 digs.
HEAD COACH AQUILES MONTOYA SAID
"This is a frustrating loss for us. These are the types of matches we expect to win and at the crunch moments our execution in everyday plays seem to fall short. The emphasis for our next match is to have a faster start so that we can adjust faster. Credit to Denver, but we really felt like we let that match slip through the cracks."
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up the Buffs Classic on Sunday, taking on Central Arkansas at 10 a.m. PT. The match will stream live on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
