In their final tournament before conference play, the Matadors dropped their first match of the Days Inn and Suites Lobo Invitational to the University of New Mexico Lobos (6-4) in four sets (25-21, 27-25, 17-25, 25-17).

CSUN out-hit New Mexico .190 to .167, but gave up 11 service aces. The Matadors were also shut down by the Lobos’ blocking; 12- 7.

Hitting just .118 in the first loss, the Matadors turned around the second controlling the game at 22-21. But the Lobos brought three straight kills to take set point (24-22), but a kill from senior outside hitter Cieana Stinson, block and Lobo hitting error returned the lead to CSUN giving them set point (25-24). A New Mexico block then tied the game at 25. Back to back Lobo points turned over the set.

Set three was all about the Matadors. CSUN out hit the Lobos .259 to .000.

However, in the final set the tides were turned when the Lobos out hit the Matadors .258 to .115.

Stinson and freshman outside hitter Aeryn Owens hit a combined 24 kills for the night, over half of the team’s kills. Stinson hit a team-high 14 (.364 on 33 attacks) and Owens 10 (.261 on 23 attacks).

Stinson also added three digs and a pair of solo blocks, making her only 41 kills away from 1,000.

Junior outside hitter Julie Haake added eight kills (.045) and sophomore middle back Rachel Diaz added four (.167). Freshman setter Erin Indermill also performed her first collegiate double-double with 21 assists and 13 digs.

After another loss, the Matadors will play their final two games of the Lobo Invitational Saturday, taking on LSU at 10:30 a.m. LIU Brooklyn at 5 p.m.