Cal State Fullerton begins Big West Conference action this week as the Titans travel to SRC Arena to take on UC Riverside Friday night at 6 p.m.
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Live Stats: Live in-game stats for the Titans match at UC Riverside will be available. Links at FullertonTitans.com
FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 AT UC RIVERSIDE
(SRC ARENA), 6 P.M.
Cal State Fullerton at UC Riverside
Series Record: Cal State Fullerton leads 28-4
First Meeting: Won, Sept. 14, 1984, 15-10, 15-6
Last Meeting: Won, Nov. 15, 2014, 25-16, 26-24, 25-19
Current Streak: Won 20
Last 10 Meetings: 10-0
UC RIVERSIDE NOTES:
UC Riverside went 5-8 during the non-conference tournament portion of its schedule, which is the program's best record prior to the start of Big West play since the 2005 team opened the season with a 10-1 mark.
Senior Helena Peric was named to the Grand Canyon Invitational All-Tournament Team over the weekend, as she paced the Highlanders with 45 kills in the three matches, including a career-high 18 in a 3-1 victory over the host Antelopes (story)
Maddie Hubbell leads the conference in total digs (131) and digs per set (2.73), while Chelsea Doyle is fifth in the league in assists per set with 7.96.
The Titans have won 20 straight matches in the series. The last time UC Riverside beat Cal State Fullerton was in a 3-2 victory on October 28, 2004.
FRESHMAN SENSATION
Alex Gresham was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2014, becoming the fifth Highlander to be so honored (Ashley Cox, 2012; Megan Reza, 2011; Jamie DeKiewiet, 2002; Shannon Burmaster, 2001)
BLUE AND GOLD DIGGER
Sophomore Maddie Hubbell ranked eighth in the Big West in digs per set last season with 3.59. She currently leads the conference in total digs (229) and in digs per set (4.77). Should Hubbell maintain her digs per set average she will rank fourth in single-season digs per set in the program's Division I history.
She was named Big West Defensive Player of the Week for her performance from August 31-September 6. She is the first Highlander to receive a weekly award since Amanda Vialpando in 2011.
ALL-TOURNEY TEAMS
The Highlanders recorded five All-Tournament caliber performances during the non-conference portion of their schedule. Chelsea Doyle, Alex Greshman and Fabiana Rosas opened the season by being named to the San Jose State All-Tournament Team (story). Maddie Hubbell earned All-Tournament honors at the Bulldog Showdown (story). Helena Peric was named to the Grand Canyon Invitational All-Tournament Team (story).
SWEPT UP
The Highlanders three-set win over Savannah State on September 6, 2014 (box score/recap) was the first sweep for UC Riverside since a 3-0 victory over Villanova on September 15, 2012 (box score/recap).
PLEADING THE FOURTH AND FIFTH
The Highlanders played to four or five sets in 13 of 28 matches last season. The 2004, 2007 and 2012 squads all played 15 matches to four or five sets to claim the UCR Division I mark.
This season, UC Riverside has played to four or five sets in seven out of its first 13 matches.
LET THERE BE HEIGHT!
Of the eight newcomers to the Highlanders 2015 squad, five are taller than 6-0, giving UC Riverside eight 6-footers overall, and its highest percentage of 6-footers in the Division I history of the program.
ISN'T THAT PRECIOUS
Junior Precious Manu had a solid weekend at the San Francisco Challenge on Sept. 18-19. She set new career highs with nine kills and 24 attempts against San Francisco. She also set a new best with a .261 attacking percentage against North Dakota State in the opener.
DIGGIN' WITH HIGGINS:
J'Nai Higgins made her season debut at the San Francisco Challenge and immediately made her presence felt, tallying 10 digs in her first match of the season against North Dakota State. Overall, Higgins tallied 20 digs at the tournament (2.00 p/s) to go along with two assists and her first career kill.
HIGH FIVE:
Freshman Kyra Smith set a new team high and personal best on Sept. 18 against North Dakota State as she posted five solo blocks against North Dakota State en route to eight total blocks for the match, tying her season high. Smith recorded all five solo swats in the opening set against the Bison to help the Titans cruise to a 25-11 win in the game, the largest margin of victory for Fullerton in a set this season.
TURN THE PAIGE:
Junior Paige Reed leads the Titans with 153 digs in 42 sets played, good for a 3.64 per set average at the conclusion of non-conference play. Reed has tallied a team-high 19 digs three times this season, the most recent against North Dakota State on Sept. 18.
TEAM LEADERS HEADING INTO CONFERENCE PLAY:
Summer Kerins continues to lead the Titans offensively with 88 kills in 40 sets played. Her 2.20 per-set average is also tops on the team. Sophomore Katelyn Nielsen has picked up her production recently and has tallied 54 kills on the season, good for a 1.86 k/s average. She racked up 11 kills on Sept. 18 against North Dakota State, which was the only double-digit kill performance of the weekend at the San Francisco Challenge. Kandace Thomas is second on the squad with 73 kills and third on the team with a 1.74 k/s average. Kyra Smith leads the Titans with 39 total blocks (13 solo) and a 0.95 per set average while Mackenzie Olsen has dished out 322 assists (7.67 p/s)
