The Northridge women’s volleyball team ended the first half of the conference season on the right note, defeating Pacific, breaking into the win column in Big West-play and snapping a 12-game losing streak.’ It was Northridge’s first home win of the 2008 season. The Matadors will now look to carry the momentum they gained as they head out on the road for two matches this weekend. Northridge will take on first-place Cal Poly Friday and UC Santa Barbara Saturday. The Mustangs have won six of their first seven Big West matches and are ahead of Long Beach State in the standings by one game. The Gauchos, tied for fourth place, split a pair of matches last week. They fell at Cal Poly 3-0 before sweeping at UC Riverside.?

Last Game: Win (3-1) vs. Pacific
Kills leader: Angela Hupp (2.63 per set)
Digs leader: Kelley Hanson (3.11 per set)?

Matador to watch:?
Sophomore Brittany Williams, outside hitter?

After struggling in three of her four previous matches with a negative hitting percentage, Williams had two solid outings last week. The sophomore had eight kills and three errors in 17 swings for a .294 clip against UC Davis Friday and 11 kills and four errors in 26 swings for a .269 during Saturday’s win over Pacific.?

Matadors @ Cal Poly Mustangs Friday at 7 p.m.

Series Record: Mustangs lead 21-20
Last Meeting: Cal Poly 3 @ CSUN 1, Sept. 2008

Mustang to Watch:
Senior Kylie Atherstone, outside hitter
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Atherstone leads the Mustangs in kills with 254 (3.68 per set), good enough for third in the Big West. She posted a team-high 17 kills in Saturday’s win over Irvine and became just the second player in the 30-year history of the Cal Poly volleyball program to record 4,000 career hitting attempts.

Matadors @ UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Saturday at 7 p.m.

Series Record: Gauchos lead 23-5
Last Meeting: Santa Barbara 3 @ CSUN 2 Sept. 26, 2008

Gaucho to watch:
Sophomore Charlene DeHoog, outside hitter

For 2008, DeHoog is second on the team with an average of 3.06 kills per set and leads Gaucho outside hitters with her .235 hitting percentage. The sophomore was impressive in Saturday’s win over UC Riverside. She tallied 10 assists on 21 attempts with no errors for a .476 clip. It marked her second errorless performance of the season.?

What did he say?

Jeff Stork, Head Coach on the Matadors moving forward after snapping the streak:

‘They’re more relaxed, but they know there is a long way to go. They are arriving early to practice, getting more treatment and stretching extra.’