Oct. 16, 2009
Fullerton, Calif. - Cal State Northridge hitters Brittany Williams and Angela Hupp combined for 27 kills and nine blocks as the Matadores upset Cal State Fullerton, 3-1, in a Big West Conference volleyball match Friday night in Titan Gym.
The Titans fall for the sixth time in the last eight meetings with the Matadores after sweeping the 2008 season series. Fullerton drops to 12-8 overall and 3-4 in league play, while Northridge improves to 6-13, 2-4.
Fullerton got a career-high 21 kills from sophomore hitter Torrie Brown and a double-double from sophomore setter Andrea Ragan (36 assists/11 digs), but were never able to gain sustained control of the match. Northridge hit .187 overall in the match, but their .400 mark in set No. 4 sealed the victory. Fullerton hit just .099 for the match, wasting a solid .457 average from Brown.
Titan libero Cami Croteau had a season-high 26 digs but was out-done by CSUN libero Monica McFarland who scooped 27 on the defensive side to lead all players. At the net, Northridge posted 11.0 blocks to Fullerton's 7.0 and were led by Tela Burnett who stuffed a share of 6 Titan shots. Williams and Chelsea Johnson also added four blocks apiece. Titan freshman middle Kayla Neto matched Burnett's effort with six block assists of her own to pace the home side.
CSF's Erin Saddler missed a double-double by just one kill (9 kills/10 digs) and snapped a person 11-match streak with double figures in kills. CSUN's Britany Graff (9 kills/17 digs) also missed a double-double by one shot. Graff hit .409 and did not commit an error in 22 swings.
The Titans will now head out on a three-match road trip looking for their first road win of the year. They will up the freeway to Long Beach State on Oct. 24 before heading to the Central Coast for matches with UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly on Oct. 30 and 31, respectively. So far, the Titans are 0-5 in away matches in 2009.