In spite of a strong start to the match, CSUN (5-18, 4-7) was not able to close out the UC Riverside Highlanders (8-16, 3-8), losing on the road in five sets, 25-19, 21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 19-17.

Things got off to an inauspicious start the Matadors, as UC Riverside was able to capture the first set with ease, 25-19.

However, the Matadors bounced back in the second and third sets, claiming both.

In the second set, the Matadors had 14 kills and six errors, while also out-hitting the Highlanders, by almost 11 percent—22 to 12.

The third set wasn’t as easy for CSUN as they only out-hit UC Riverside by three percent. They also had their backs on the wall, as they trailed 23-21 before junior outside hitter Julie Haake notched three consecutive kills. Haake then opened the door for senior outside hitter Cieana Stinson to garner the game-clinching kill.

Stinson was able to sustain her dominance over the course of the game, as she notched a game-high 29 kills.

With CSUN one set away with a much-needed road victory, the Highlanders took control of the match again, due in large part to a porous 12.7 hit percentage by the Matadors.

The final proved to be more competitive, as the Matadors took 11-8, before UC Riverside went on a four-point run and recapturing the lead. Following that run, the Matadors actually took the lead at 14-13, before UC Riverside earned it back and pulled away for a 19-17 set victory, and match victory.

The Matadors will attempt to bounce back against the University of Hawaii on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Matadome.