The CSUN women’s volleyball team looks to continue their winning ways when they face UC Riverside on Friday at 7 p.m. in Riverside.
The Matadors (11-16, 3-8 Big West) are on a two-game winning streak after they defeated UC Davis and Cal State Bakersfield. The win against Cal State Bakersfield was CSUN’s first road win of the 2010 season.
Northridge used a team-high nine kills by senior middle blocker Lynda Morales to sweep the Roadrunners in three straight sets (25-22, 25-16, 25-18). The Matadors dominated the match from beginning to end, outscoring CSU Bakersfield 75-56. The victory was a complete team effort for the Matadors.
In order for the Matadors to beat UC Riverside (2-24, 0-10 Big West) and stay in seventh place in the Big West, they have to continue getting help from every member of the team.
A big contributor from the bench for the Matadors has been freshman setter Sydney Gedryn. In 46 sets played this season, Gedryn has 19 kills, 191 assists, 43 digs and 37 blocks. In Gedryn’s last three games she has averaged 20 assists, three blocks and 6.3 digs.
The Matadors have to continue to serve well to come out with a victory. CSUN is fourth in the Big West in service aces with 132.
Junior setter Sam Orlandini leads the Matadors with 29 aces, a new career high. Orlandini is fourth in the Big West in service aces. In her last game, Orlandini had three of the Matadors’ five aces.
CSUN is also ranked in the top four in the Big West in blocks. The Matadors have a total of 234.5 blocks. Morales leads the team with 105 blocks and is ranked fourth in the Big West.
UC Riverside is on a 10-game losing streak. The Highlanders’ last win came against CSU Bakersfield on Oct. 2. They are 0-13 on the road and 1-5 at home. UC Riverside is still searching for its first conference win of the season. The Highlanders are last in the Big West Conference behind UC Irvine.
Senior outside hitter Kelly Simpson leads the Highlanders with 247 kills and 21 service aces and junior setter Katie Meyers leads the team with 431 assists. Sophomore setter Courtney Wypiszynski leads the Big West in service aces with an average of .38 aces per set.
CSUN leads the all-time series 42-19 against UC Riverside but the Highlanders have won three of the last five matches. CSUN did win the last matchup against UCR earlier this season. The Matadors beat the Highlanders three sets to one (25-21, 24-26, 25-15, 25-18) on Oct. 9 at the Matadome. Freshman opposite hitter Natalie Allen led the team with 16 kills and freshman outside hitter Mahina Haina added 10 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Shelby LeDuff led the Highlanders with 14 kills and sophomore defensive specialist Megan Patterson added 13 digs.
The Matadors are still winless on the road against conference opponents.
For Northridge three of its last five games on the season are on the road.
