The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

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Matadors get win after winning streak snapped

Freshman Eric Vance had a match-high 14 kills as the fifth-ranked Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team swept Stanford in three games March 11 at Burnham Pavilion.

The Matadors won with scores of 30-21, 30-22 and 30-18. It improved to 12-8 overall and 7-7 in MPSF. With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 4-18 overall and 2-14 in the conference.

In game one, the Matadors had 17 kills in 30 attempts, hitting .500 while only committing two errors. The Cardinals had 14 kills in 27 attempts, hitting only .222 while committing eight errors.

Vance had his attack game on display by hitting .500 in 26 attempts and receiving one error. He overpowered the Cardinals’ defense with three aces, four digs and two blocks. The Cardinals’ Ben Reddy led his team with 11 kills but hit -.032 because of 12 errors in 31 attempts.

Sophomore setter Travis Bluemling helped out the Matadors with 29 assists along with four digs. The Cardinals’ Miki Groppi had 19 assists to lead the Cardinals in the category.

The Matadors were able to hit a .432 overall with 38 kills in 74 attempts while only committing six errors. The Cardinals doomed themselves with an attack hitting percentage of .089 with 37 kills in 90 attempts while committing an astounding 29 errors in the match.

Before CSUN beat Stanford, the Pacific Tigers upset the Matadors in five games March 10 at the Spanos Center and snapped CSUN’s three-match winning streak.

In the first game against the Tigers, the Matadors won 30-27 which attacked with 17 kills compared to the Cardinals’ 14 kills.

Junior Dan Rhodes led CSUN with 28 kills and 12 digs. Pacific’s Andreas Baboulidis had 22 kills and Pekka Seppanen added 20 for the Tigers.

Pacific setter Mitch Hazelett had 63 assists and six digs. Topping his numbers, Bluemling had 67 assists and eight digs for the Matadors in the match.

It was a seesaw battle as the Tigers came back in the second game winning 31-29. In the third game, the Matadors were able to come up with one more set victory but the Tigers would take it from this point.

The fourth set saw the Tigers come alive and clawing to a 30-23 win. With the match tied 2-2, the Tigers would take the final game 18-16 to receive the overall victory.

The Matadors had 76 kills in 168 attempts by hitting .292 for the overall match. The Tigers meanwhile had 78 kills in 167 attempts, hitting a better .305 for the match. Both teams were identical in giving up 27 errors.

CSUN continues action this week as they travel to UC Santa Barbara March 15 and UC San Diego March 17.

Arthur Vong can be reached at sports_sundial@csun.edu.

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