Matadors Best Highlanders Volleyball 3-1 in Big West Action

Saturday, October 10

Northridge, CA

7:00 pm

UC Riverside

Cal State Northridge

Matadors Best Highlanders Volleyball 3-1 in Big West Action

10/10/2009 9:37:35 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score - Cal State Northridge 3, UC Riverside 1

Northridge, CA - Coming off their second win of the season the night before in non-conference action, the UC Riverside volleyball team tried to make it two in a row on Saturday night as they returned to Big West Conference play at Cal State Northridge. The Highlanders (2-13, 0-5) won the first set 25-18 but the Matadors (5-13, 1-4) rallied for the next three sets 25-17, 25-20, and 25-20 for the win.

UC Riverside opened up an early 3-0 lead in the first set off a Shelby LeDuff kill and two CSUN errors before the Matadors tied it up at three apiece. After three more tie scores, the Highlanders went on a 9-3 run to lead 15-9 on a Brittney Murrey kill. Cal State Northridge then rallied to within three, 17-14, before UCR outscored them down the stretch to win the first set 25-18.

In the second set the Highlanders again opened an early 4-0 lead but saw the Matadors tie things up at five all. A few points later tied at nine apiece, CSUN went on a 7-0 run to open up a 17-9 lead en route to their 25-17 second set win.

With both teams having won one set each, the third set would prove to be critical as each team jostled for a 2-1 advantage. UC Riverside found themselves down 14-9 but quickly went on to tie the set at 16 all. After two more tie scores the Matadors would take the lead for good, 19-18, as the Highlanders could not get closer than one.

In the fourth set things were close early on as there were eight tie scores and seven lead changes through the first 15 points. CSUN then took a 15-14 lead and never looked back as they won 25-20 for the fourth set win and match victory.

Bianca Endersby (pictured) and Tonbara Youpele each had nine kills for the Highlanders while Katherine Castillo added 16 digs, Murrey posted 28 assists and Kelley Quinn and Endersby each had a hand in five blocks.

UC Riverside is on the road again next weekend for two Big West Conference matches. The Highlanders are at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Oct. 15 and at UC Irvine on Saturday, Oct. 17. Both matches are slated for 7:00 pm.

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