FULLERTON, Calif. – The Titans wrap up the 2015 season this weekend when they head to the Walter Pyramid to take on Long Beach State on Friday night. Fullerton then returns to Titan Gym on Saturday night to host CSUN on Senior Night to conclude the season.
FOLLOW THE TITANS:
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), Instagram (@FullertonTitans), and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the volleyball team has established its own official Twitter page (@FullertonVB).
CATCH ALL THE ACTION:
Television: None
Streaming Video: A live video stream for both matches this week will be available through BigWest.tv. Links are available at FullertonTitans.com.
Audio Webcast: A live audio broadcast will be available for both of Fullerton's matches this week. Links at FullertonTitans.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats for all matches this week will be available. Links at FullertonTitans.com.
TICKETS:
Tickets for all Titans home games can be purchased online at FullertonTitans.com, or at the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Titan House on campus off of Gymnasium Drive on the northeast side of Titan Gym. Game day sales and will call tickets will open an hour prior to the scheduled time at the specific venue. All Cal State Fullerton students with a school ID get free admission.
SENIOR NIGHT:
Join the Titans on Saturday night as they honor their four departing seniors; Kandace Thomas, Mackenzie Olsen, Korryne Kelley and Ariana Salazar. There will be a pregame ceremony recognizing the seniors prior to the start of the match.
FRIDAY, NOV 20 AT LONG BEACH STATE
(WALTER PYRAMID), 7 P.M.
Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach State
Series Record: Long Beach State leads 67-5
First Meeting: Lost, Nov. 10, 1980, 4-15, 5-15, 12-15
Last Meeting: Lost, Nov. 4, 2015, 13-25, 18-25, 17-25
Current Streak: Lost 6
Last 10 Meetings: 1-9
FIRST MEETING VS. LONG BEACH STATE:
Cal State Fullerton fell to Long Beach State in three sets back on Nov. 4 in Titan Gym. Kyra Hill notched her 10th double-digit kill performance of the season for the TItans, tallying 16 kills on the night to tie a career high. Mackenzie Olsen recorded her fourth double-double of the season as she dished out 27 assists to go along with 10 digs.
For the 49ers, reigning two-time Big West Conference Player of the Week Nele Barber led the way with 12 kills, hitting at a .370 clip (12-2-27). Peyton Grahovac added 11 kills and Carly Beddingfield had eight. Jenelle Hudson had 39 assists and eight digs while Mykah Wilson paced the defense with a match-high 15 digs.
LONG BEACH STATE NOTES:
• Freshman Peyton Grahovac has found a comfortable home on the right side and has been solid over her last six appearances. During that stretch, the Orange, Calif. native boasts a .338 hitting percentage and has reached double-digit kills in all six matches. She now has seven career matches with 10+ kills and is up to third on the team with 2.31 kills per set this season.
• Senior Hayley Benson ranks 4th in the Big West in hitting percentage during conference play, hitting at a .338 clip. Peyton Grahovac is storming up the charts with her recent hot streak, the freshman sits 7th in the conference with a .302 attack percentage in Big West matches.
• Nele Barber had the most productive match of her Long Beach State career in carrying the Beach to a thrilling come-from-behind win vs. Cal Poly on Oct. 24. Barber set a new career high in kills (24), digs (20), blocks (7), and attempts (74) to give the Beach one of its most exciting victories of the season.
• That performance marked the first 20/20 match of Barber's career. It's the first time an LBSU player reached 20 kills and 20 digs in a match since Delainey Aigner-Swesey's 20/20 vs. UCSB during the 2013 season.
• Senior setter Jenelle Hudson has flirted with a triple-double a few times this season against UC Santa Barbara. She was one kill away in the first meeting on Oct. 3 (9 kills, 43 assists, 10 digs) then on Oct. 23 she put up similar numbers (8 K, 36 A, 8 D) in one fewer set against the Gauchos. The last triple-double for Long Beach State came from Tara Roenicke during the 2012 season.
SATURDAY, NOV 21 VS. CSUN
(TITAN GYM), 7:30 P.M.
Cal State Fullerton vs. CSUN
Series Record: CSUN leads 30-11
First Meeting: Lost, Nov. 16, 1980, 11-15, 12-15, 9-15
Last Meeting: Lost, Nov. 10, 2015, 19-25, 18-25, 17-25
Current Streak: Lost 9
Last 10 Meetings: 1-9
FIRST MEETING VS. CSUN:
Cal State Fullerton had a rough night offensively as no player reached double figures in kills in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-17) Big West Conference loss to CSUN on Nov. 10 at the Matadome.
The Titans (0-24, 0-12) remained winless and are now one loss shy of the second worst start in program history as CSUN (6-19, 5-8) outhit Fullerton .365 to .151 for the match.
Megann Delgado led the Titans with eight kills with Precious Manu adding six on the night with a .400 attacking percentage. Katelyn Nielsen posted all five of her kills in the third set and Mackenzie Olsen set a new season high with five kill of her own on seven attempts without an error, good for a .714 attacking percentage, a new career best. Olsen also added 24 assists and seven digs. Paige Reed led the defense with 13 digs.
CSUN NOTES:
STINSON MOVES INTO EIGHTH IN CAREER KILLS: With her fourth kill against UC Davis on Sept. 26, senior Cieana Stinson became the 12th player in CSUN women's volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills. Stinson began her final collegiate season with 836 career kills and has added a team-high 349 kills through 26 matches this season. With 1,185 career kills, Stinson has moved into eighth in CSUN history. She passed former teammate Mahina Haina last week and is now 11 kills out of seventh. Stinson became the fourth player in the last three seasons to reach the career milestone. Both Casey Hinger and Natalie Allen reached 1,000 kills in 2014 with Mahina Haina accomplishing the feat in 2013.
MATADORS: THIS & THAT: Stinson heads into the final week of the season as the team leader in all five attacking statistical categories. The senior currently has team-highs of 349 kills, 127 errors, 906 attacks and is averaging a team-high 3.75 kps on .245 hitting. Stephanie Serna Arreola leads in three of the four blocking categories carrying team-leading totals of 44 total blocks, 38 block assists and a 0.63 blocks per set average ... After posting a 16-4 (.800) Matadome record over the 2012 and 2013 seasons, the Matadors are 9-6 (.600) at home over the last two seasons ... After opening the season 1-11, CSUN is 5-9 over its last 14 matches.
NIELSEN SETS CAREER MARKS VS. UCSB:
Sophomore Katelyn Nielsen had a career night on Nov. 13 against UC Santa Barbara at Titan Gym. Nielsen blasted a career-high 13 kills on just one error in the four-set match against the Gauchos. Her .400 attacking percentage was also a new career best.
HOLDING THE BACK LINE:
Paige Reed continues to lead the Titans defensively. She tallied 17 digs against UC Santa Barbara; marking the 10th time she has recorded 15 or more digs in a match. She leads the team with 358 total digs and a 3.93 per set average. She ranks fifth in the conference in per-set average and sixth in overall digs.
SMITH REMAINS OUT WITH HAND INJURY:
Kyra Smith has missed the Titans last three matches with a hand injury. Smith racked up 22 solo blocks this season, which leads the Big West Conference.
OLSEN SETS CAREER BEST AT CSUN:
Mackenzie Olsen set a new career mark with a .714 attacking percentage, setting season high with five kills on seven attempts.
WINLESS STREAK MATCHED:
Fullerton has lost its first 26 matches of the season for the second time since 1980 and first since 1994. It is the worst stretch in program history as the Titans went 1-28 after losing the first 26 matches of the season in 1994. The Titans have never gone winless in a season in the program's history, which dates back to 1976.
