FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Northridge remains undefeated in Big West Conference play after completing a three-set sweep (25-23, 25-12, 26-24) over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday evening at Titan Gym.
The Matadors (13-3, 3-0 Big West), receiving votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association top-25 poll, have won seven of their last eight matches.
Fullerton (8-7, 1-2) has now dropped four of its last five, and has been swept on five occasions in 2013.
Cal State Northridge hit at a clip of .225 for the match as the trio of Casey Hinger, Mahina Haina and Cieana Stinson recorded 10 kills apiece. Setter Sydney Gedryn totaled a macth-high 34 assists in addition to six kills.
Fullerton was held to a .088 attacking percentage and freshman Faith Rockmore was the only Titan to reach double-figures setting match and career highs with 11 kills. Leah Best added eight kills and four blocks, and McKenna Painton collected 12 digs.
The Matadors had to erase deficits in each set as Fullerton failed to hold early leads.
Fullerton's largest lead in the first set was 21-17, but the Matadors erased their four-point deficit and closed the game on an 8-2 run. During that run, Gedryn produced three kills courtesy of deceptive sets, while Fullerton committed two attack errors.
Natalie Allen, Hinger, Haina and Gedryn totaled four kills apiece for Northridge in the first set, respectively, while Bre Moreland and Rockmore led Fullerton with four kills each.
In the second set, Fullerton once again could not sustain a lead as the Titans led 7-4 before Northridge scored 11 unanswered points to take a 15-7 lead that was far too deep for Fullerton to climb out of.
The Matadors hit at a clip of .303 in the second set led by Hinger's four kills, while Northridge held Fullerton to a cold -.091 attacking percentage as the Titans committed 12 errors in the second game.
In the third set, Fullerton's last lead was at 13-12, before Northridge scored four straight points to take a 16-13 advantage. Fullerton tied the Matadors twice in the third set after losing its lead, but never took an advantage.
The Titans return to action at 7 p.m. on Saturday at UC Riverside.
Notes: Fullerton has lost five straight to Cal State Northridge…the Titans were swept for the fifth time this season…Faith Rockmore totaled a match and career high 11 kills…Julie Consani's 1,535 career assists rank seventh all-time at Cal State Fullerton.
