With the 2015 season in the books, three Matadors are also closing this chapter in their volleyball career. Seniors Travis Magorien, Kyle Stevenson and Greg Faulkner all leave CSUN this year, but not without first leaving their mark.
“It’s sad seeing them go, being with someone for that long,” said CSUN men’s volleyball head coach Jeff Campbell. “These guys have the right attitude; they’ve always been working hard.”
As a setter, and captain, Magorien was integral to the Matadors’ success in each match. Totaling 2,911 assists with an average of 8.098 per set in his career as a Matador, Magorien is number seven on CSUN’s career assists list. In 2014, Magorien had his career-high 929 assists (9. 68 per set). Magorien has played in 107 matches and 346 sets throughout CSUN career and was one of three Matadors (including fellow senior Faulkner) to appear in all 27 matches in his 2014 junior season. This season, however, Magorien missed just two sets playing 26 out of the total 28. Hitting .250 Magorien had the fifth highest hitting percentage of his teammates. Magorien says that it is surreal to be leaving the Matadors and that playing on the Matadome court his last time did not truly feel that way.
The 22-year-old business major will be leaving the Matadors but plans to continue his volleyball career, but no longer on the court.
“I’m probably going to coach,” Magorien said. “I want to coach high level volleyball. I wanted to play, but physically I just don’t think I can keep playing at the level I want to. I’m probably going to coach either men’s collegiate or women’s collegiate (volleyball).”
Following the 2015 season, Faulkner, the 6-foot-5-inch middle back, was named an All-MPSF Honorable Mention. This was the third time he received honors from the MPSF, the first in his 2014 season and the second in 2011 when he was an All-MPSF Freshman Team pick. Deserving honors this season, Faulkner led the Matadors in both hitting and blocking. Faulkner hit .334 this season while blocking 1.21 per set- fifth in the MPSF. His career-high 127 blocks in 105 sets set him above his teammates and ranked him fifth in a single season in CSUN’s rally scoring era. He is now no. 51 in the total number of players CSUN men’s volleyball has had named to the All-MPSF Team since its conference debuted in 1993, gomatadors.com said.
“It was great” Faulkner said about his final match on the Matadome court and career as a Matador.
Faulkner spent every game of this season on the court appearing in all 28 matches. Following Faulkner’s sophomore season, he was granted a medical red-shirt season, but didn’t skip a beat playing in a total of 289 sets and 85 matches. Once again appearing in every match of the season, Faulkner played all 28 matches his senior season. The 22-year-old Urban Studies major is going to continue playing in those matches even if they aren’t in a Matador jersey.
“I’m looking to see if I can go overseas. So I’m definitely going to be playing a lot of volleyball over the summer; I’m going to stay active. I still might even be around here working out,” Faulkner said.
Stevenson played in 22 out of 28 matches this season, totaling 85 matches and 259 sets in his career. Beginning his CSUN career as a redshirt freshman, Stevenson made his Matador debut in 2012, starting in 12 of the 15 games he played in. He also set his career-high blocking record during that season at 6, against Pepperdine. As a sophomore, Stevenson finished fifth on the team with 242 total attacks and was fourth in digs with 95. In his junior year, Stevenson was once again fifth on the team with total kills at 97 and fifth with 287 total attacks. As a senior, the outside hitter posted 137 kills (1.78 kills per set) on 425 total attacks. Adding 90 digs and 28 blocks, Stevenson has been a true asset for the Matadors. But Stevenson doesn’t plan on having his career end with his retired Matador uniform.
“I’ll try and play beach volleyball, definitely and maybe I’ll try and play in Europe,” said Stevenson.
These three seniors have been leaders, record breakers and good teammates. They have been the center of the team and each had their chance to shine for the Matadors. Their fans, coaches and teammates have appreciated everything they’ve done and relish the time they had with them.
Sophomore outside hitter Bradley Sakaida said, “They bring us together really well, they’re great teammates and I hope I’m friends with them for a long time, because they’re great people.”