NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – UC Riverside (6-11, 2-5 Big West) dropped a 3-0 decision to CSUN (11-7, 4-3 Big West) on Friday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena. 

Makena Tong recorded her fifth double-double in her last six matches with 23 assists and 13 digs. 

UCR struggled out of the gate with an uncharacteristic four early errors, but outswung the Matadors 41-35 in set one. Tong led the Highlanders with eight assists and six digs in the first frame while Sophia Ewalefo picked up four kills. 

UC Riverside came out in set two with more firepower, hitting .200 with three blocks and two aces. Ewalefo and Layla Hooks combined for five of UCR's first nine points in the set, and Kylie Proctor saw her first Division I action while picking up a kill to stay within striking distance. 

Proctor and Vanessa Imoh later teamed up on the block to tie the set at 13. UCR closed in on the Matadors with a 3-0 run via an ace and two Matador attack errors, but CSUN closed out the set. 

Imoh recorded three straight points for UC Riverside to shrink the deficit to five midway through set three. The North Dakota transfer logged three of her seven kills in sets two and three each, while Ewalefo tied a match high with 10 kills. 

UC Riverside has a quick turnaround with a Saturday afternoon 4:00 pm first serve at Cal State Bakersfield on ESPN+.