Box Score Northridge, CA—For the first time this season, the UC Riverside Volleyball Team was defeated in a Big West five-set match. After taking the first two sets from Cal State Northridge, the Highlanders allowed the Matadors to win the final three sets of the match for the 3-2 victory (25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, and 12-15).

Three of UCR's five conference victories occurred in five-set matches.

CSUN was led by Aeryn Owens who had 17 kills, followed by Nada Dragovic' s 16, and Lauren Contani's 29 assists.

Helena Peric and Fabiana Rosas led the offense with 18 kills apiece. Chelsea Doyle set the attack as she had 51 assists, while Maddie Hubbell anchored the defense with 20 digs.

On November 3, CSUN and UCR played in a five-set thriller, won by the Highlanders. Friday's match appeared to be headed for a different outcome, as UC Riverside took the first two sets by the scores of 25-23 and 25-22.

UCR (10-18, 5-10) was ahead in the third set, 12-9, when CSUN (7-20, 6-9) mounted its first rally of the match, winning six straight points on strength of four Aeryn Owens kills in the run to take the lead 15-12.

The Matadors never trailed again in the set, as they maintained the lead to extend the match by way of a 25-23 third set victory.

Midway through the fourth set CSUN was leading 14-9, when the Highlanders responded by winning six of seven points to tie the set at 15. The clubs would trade points before the Matadors got a 22-21 lead, they then won three of next four points to claim the fourth and forced a fifth set.

In the decisive fifth set, CSUN jumped out to 4-0 lead, a margin they pushed to 8-3. UCR then scored four points in a row to trail 8-7, and force the Matadors to a call a timeout. After the stoppage, Cal State Northridge outscored the Highlanders 7-5 to claim the fifth set 15-12, and the match three sets to two.

The Highlanders return home for their final match of season, Senior Night against Long Beach State at 7pm PT.