NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - UC San Diego dropped a straight-set decision to No. 13 CSUN in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) men's volleyball match at The Matadome on Friday night. Scores were 25-15, 25-17 and 25-15.
With the result, UCSD is now 3-13 overall and 0-12 in the MPSF. CSUN improved to 10-5 overall and an even 5-5 in league play with a second home win in three nights.
Outside hitter Kirill Rudenko had a team-high six kills for the Tritons, to go along with three digs, two assists, one service ace and a block assist. Fellow senior Tanner Howard provided six digs from his libero position. Milosh Stojcic had 15 assists.
UCSD was significantly out-performed in the blocking game, managing just 4.0 as a team to 14.5 by the home side. It was the top total by a Triton opponent in 2016, and included a trio of triple stuffs.
Josiah Byers led all players with nine kills and seven blocks for the Matadors. He hit .900 without an error in 10 swings. Setter Sam Porter collected 24 assists, and CJ Suarez eight digs.
CSUN tallied the first two points of the opening set and the first three of the third, leading for the entirety of both. The middle frame had three lead changes and three tie scores. UCSD scored the initial point on a solo block by sophomore Alec Flowers on Bradley Sakaida, but the Matadors produced the next four. A run of three in a row by the Tritons to close back to within one at 7-6, was followed a short time later by another 4-0 sequence around a CSUN timeout that found UCSD back on top, 11-10, after a Flowers kill. The Matadors got the next four, however, and went on to win.
"One of the big differences in the match tonight, was Northridge did a nice job of pressuring us at the net with their block," said UCSD head coach Kevin Ring. "They had 23 block assists and three solo blocks. Some of that stemmed from them serving very well. They had a lot of tough serves that kept us out of system. Even when we did pass well, I thought their blockers did a great job on us.
"That is one of the better blocking teams in our league. It's certainly a challenge for us, facing a team that's got maybe a little bit more size. Their middles are very good blockers. We need to have better offensive production, and if we're doing that, then we could be competitive."
Having concluded this season-long four-match road stretch, UCSD returns to RIMAC Arena on Saturday, Feb. 20, to complete its non-conference home-and-home series with Holy Names (0-11). First serve is set for an earlier 5 p.m. The Tritons swept the Hawks, 3-0, in Oakland on Jan. 23.
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