NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The 17th-ranked UC San Diego men's volleyball team improved to 5-0 on the season Friday after defeating Lindenwood, 3-1.

Set scores went 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, and 25-21.

Lindenwood, which is receiving votes in this week's national poll, fell to 1-2 overall with the loss.

The match was part of CSUN's Under Armour Challenge and was played at the Matadors' Premiere America Credit Union Arena.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite UC San Diego hitting a season-low .206 (39-19-97), Lindenwood hit half of that, finishing at .103 (42-30-117).

The Triton defense was solid, providing a season-high 11 blocks at the net. Setter Bryce Dvorak, middle Jim Garrison, and middle Peter Selcho had four total blocks each. Opposite Anthony Cherfan had three stuffs.

Offensively, Cherfan contributed a match co-high 13 kills while hitting .320. He also added a service ace and eight digs. Outside hitter Leo Pravednikov had 11 kills and seven digs.

Dvorak amassed a season-best 35 assists, while libero Keegan Cook led all players with 10 digs.

For the Lions, Brendan Louthain was able to put away 13 kills. Ian Schuller and Carter Stenmark each had eight kills.

Tied 7-7 in the opening set, the Tritons compiled a four-point run and they led the rest of the set. Garrison, Pravednikov, and Schellinger each had a kill during the run and the Lions had an attack error.

Trailing 22-16, Lindenwood managed to climb back into it. A four-point run got the Lions back within two at 22-20. The Tritons took the next two points to get to set point at 24-20. Lindenwood was able to thwart two set points before Cherfan ended it with a kill from a Dvorak set.

The Tritons hit .280 in the set while the Lions hit .174.

Lindenwood hit in the negative in the second set but was able to overcome that to even the match at 1-1.

Behind by a 13-7 score, the Tritons scored five-straight points to close the gap to one. A later Pravednikov kill tied the set at 18-18, the first time it was knotted since 4-4.

Tied again at 21-21, the Lions won four of the next five points to close it out.

Late runs featured again in set three. In front by a single point, 18-17, UC San Diego used a 5-2 run to get in front 23-19. The teams traded points that got the Tritons to set point at 24-20. Lindenwood spoiled two of those set points, but a block by Dvorak and Selcho allowed their team to go up 2-1.

Behind 11-7, UC San Diego ran off eight-straight points to grab a 15-11 advantage. Cherfan had a pair of kills while Garrison and Pravednikov combined on a block. Several setting errors as well as errors on the attack and from the service line plagued the Lions during that span. UC San Diego kept its lead through the rest of the set, but Lindenwood closed within a point multiple times, the final at 18-17. The Tritons won five of the next six points to get some breathing room, which was enough to go on to victory.
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HIGHLIGHTS

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TRITON TIDBITS
• It was UC San Diego's first match of the season away from La Jolla.
• The Lindenwood Lions hail from Saint Charles, Mo., and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).
• Through five matches, the Tritons are hitting.333 while opponents are hitting just .106.
• UC San Diego is out-blocking its opponents 44.5 to 20.5.
• The Tritons have hit north of .300 in three of five matches and over .400 in two.
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UP NEXT
UC San Diego plays its second and final match at the Under Armour Challenge Saturday as it takes on Purdue Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. The contest be followed live on ESPN+ or with live stats.
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