The weekend getaway to Hawaii could not change the fate of the Matador women’s volleyball team, as they dropped all three matches at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Volleyball Challenge.
The Matadors extended their losing streak to four matches, with an overall record of 2-7.
During the tournament, the Matadors were first swept by UCLA (3-0), then the following night by Hawaii (3-0), finally losing in four games to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
CSUN’s first match was against the No. 10 UCLA Bruins (5-1). The Bruins jumped out to an early 22-12 lead in the first game. Later, the Matadors were unable to capitalize on UCLA mistakes, as the Bruins committed an attack error, making the score 24-13.
The Matadors rallied off five straight points to hold UCLA at game point, but the Bruins finally mustered a kill, breaking the Matadors serving streak and ending the first game.
In the second game, after trading points with UCLA, the Matadors fell behind, as the Bruins served an ace stretching the score, 18-10.
The Matadors captured the next two points before UCLA caught fire and pushed their lead to 12, bringing the score to 24-12.
The Matadors cut the Bruin lead to eight before a UCLA kill ended the second frame with a score of 30-21.
In game three, the Matadors raced to a 10-3 lead sparked by a key kill from freshman Val Kepler, but after a run by UCLA, the Matadors were lead tightened to four.
The score was evened by the Bruins after a service ace tied the score at 21-21. CSUN would never lead again, ending the game 30-26, and losing the match.
The Matadors second outing came against the No. 7 University of Hawaii (5-3). The eventual winner of the tournament slammed home a school record .573 kill percentage, as the team swept the visiting Matadors.
Hawaii dominated the first game, winning 30-17. The Rainbow Wahine had 10 kills in the first frame with their two middle hitters combining for a perfect 11 for 11 hitting, while the home crowd of 6,529 looked on.
In the second frame against Hawaii, the Matadors were able to capture their last lead of the game on a kill by Darla Donaldson (6-5).
Hawaii responded and took the lead off a kill before the Matadors could tie the score at 10 on a service ace by Kayla Wright.
After Hawaii jumped out to another lead, the Matadors pulled the score even again at 15-15, thanks to the service ace of Kelley Hanson.
The Matadors were able to cut the lead to three after a Donaldson kill (19-16).
CSUN captured six more points before they were finished off by a four-point Hawaii run that concluded with two kills, closing the second frame 30-22.
The Matadors started the third frame against Hawaii with a 2-0 lead, but the Wahine were too dominate, recapturing the lead.
CSUN trailed by seven after a Jenn Probert kill brought the score to 24-17. The game and match ended on a crushing kill by Hawaii, concluding the match 30-24.
The Matadors final match was against 2-4 Cincinnati. The Matadors took the first frame 30-28 thanks to a Probert kill.
The first game win gave the Matadors their first set win since losing their last six opening frames. The Matadors managed to secure the first game regardless of the teams lower hitting percentage and lower total kills.
In frame two, the Matadors hit a dismal .026, killing the ball 11 times compared to the Bearcats .111.
The Matadors lost the frame 30-25 before being finished off by the Bearcats in the third frame 30-24 and the final frame 30-23, ending the matadors Hawaiian Island volleyball experience.
The Matadors roster is without a senior player. The team rosters four juniors, three sophomores and 10 freshmen.
The trip to Hawaii concluded a six-match road trip for the Matadors.
The teams next game will be at home on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Matadome against Cal Poly.
Malik Lee can be reached at maliklee007@yahoo.com.
