NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – In a lengthy Big West battle between two top ten teams, No. 9 CSUN defeated tenth-ranked UC San Diego in a five-set match on Thursday evening at Premier America Credit Union Arena. The final score was 3-2 in favor of the home team, with set scores of 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, 21-25, and 19-17. UC San Diego posted a strong attack percentage of .359, accumulating 63 kills, while CSUN recorded 62 kills with a .323 hitting percentage. The Tritons led in blocking, totaling 10 blocks compared to CSUN's 6.5 blocks. Despite UC San Diego's five service aces, CSUN secured the win with crucial points in the second and third sets.
 
After the match, both teams now sit at 17-8 on the season. The Tritons are 3-4 in The Big West, while the Matadors are now 2-5 record in conference action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bryce Dvorak was a key player for the Tritons, recording 53 assists over five sets, showcasing his playmaking abilities. Anthony Cherfan led the team in total points with 28, supported by 24 kills and three service aces. Peter Selcho stood out defensively with five total blocks, the highest on the team. Leo Pravednikov amassed 16 points with 14 kills and maintaining a hitting percentage of .367. Additionally, Jim Garrison posted a .500 hitting percentage with eight kills.
 
The first set began with a strong showing from the visiting team, as Garrison blocked a crucial attack, earning the first point and setting a competitive tone. Cherfan emerged as a key player, contributing multiple kills, such as his spike from Dvorak's assist at 15-9, which helped maintain momentum. Dvorak's strategic playmaking was instrumental, resulting in several assists, including a final service ace by Josh Schellinger to seal the set at 25-19 in favor of the visiting team.
 
The second set saw the Tritons embarking on a strong run early with a series of consecutive points, including a notable block by Garrison and Cherfan at the start, pushing the score to 6-1 in their favor. Dvorak excelled in setting up his teammates, contributing multiple assists, notably to Pravednikov and Cherfan, keeping the team ahead for most of the set. Despite a late rally by the home team to tie the score at 24, the Tritons were edged out 26-24, with Jalen Phillips' decisive kill securing the set for the home team.
 
The third set began with a quick exchange of points, but the Matadors took an early lead at 6-3. The Tritons responded with effective plays from Cherfan and Pravednikov, narrowing the gap. Despite a service ace from Dvorak and consistent assists from him throughout the set, CSUN managed to secure a 25-22 victory.
 
Starting the fourth set, UC San Diego set the tone with a quick kill by Schellinger, assisted by Keegan Cook, to take the early lead at 1-0. Throughout the set, Dvorak proved pivotal in facilitating the offense with multiple assists, notably connecting with Cherfan for crucial points, including the final kill that sealed the set at 25-21 in favor of the Tritons. A key moment occurred when UC San Diego capitalized on a series of errors by the Matadors to turn the momentum, highlighted by Cherfan's service ace at 24-20, which helped secure the victory in this set.
 
The fifth set opened with a strong start for the visiting team as Selcho contributed with a kill, assisted by Dvorak, at the first point. The Tritons continued to build momentum when Schellinger and Selcho combined for consecutive blocks, increasing the score to 3-0. Despite a series of service errors from both teams, Cherfan and Pravednikov managed key kills that kept the score close. Ultimately, the set was tightly contested, with the Matadors edging out the Tritons 19-17 after a back-and-forth battle.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The Tritons are now 8-8 against ranked opponents this season.
• UC San Diego fell to 2-3 in five-set matches.
• Thursday was the penultimate road match of the season for the Tritons, who will close the regular season on April 19 at Long Beach State.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons and Matadors will play a rematch Saturday evening in LionTree Arena, where UC San Diego is 10-1 this season. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through Triton Box Office. Broadcast coverage will be provided by ESPN+ and KSDT Radio, with live stats available on UCSDTritons.com.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Divisions I and II.