Matching the Matadors

Friday, March 20

Northridge, CA

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

6-16, 2-14MPSF

Cal State Northridge

8-13, 5-10MPSF

California Baptist

CSUN

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

3/20/2015 9:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – After suffering a close loss to Cal State Northridge back in the Van Dyne Gym earlier this season, California Baptist University wanted to hand the 15^th-ranked Matadors a loss on their home floor.

The Lancers came close to the upset but dropped a five-set battle, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-7, Friday night. CBU moves to 6-16, 2-14 in the MPSF and CSUN makes a move to 8-13, 5-10. Defensively, the Lancers outplayed the Matadors – besting them in digs and blocks.

Cal State Northridge was held to a .156 attack percentage in the match, as three Lancers eclipsed double-digit digs to help give CBU 46 in the match overall, which matched its season high. Kevin Kustura led the way with a team-high 12 digs. Zachary Melcher and Rocky DeLyon both had 10 each, with Melcher completing a double-double with 35 assists and DeLyon coming one kill shy of his own double-double.

Enrique de Diego Garcia, Caleb Miller and Melcher all tied for a match-high seven blocks for CBU. Giovanni Llinas Rosa had a team-high 10 kills the Lancers, who received nine from Roy Powell.

CBU opened the match on a 3-0 run, thanks to a Powell kill and combo block from Garcia and Melcher. The Matadors rebounded and took a 4-3 lead, eventually building it to a 16-10 advantage. It was enough to push them to a 25-17 win in the first set.

CBU hit a match-high .417 (13 kills, three errors on 24 attempts) in the second set, with Llinas Rosa and Miller each connecting on all four and three of their swings, respectively. There were several ties in the early going, but a 3-1 run fueled by a Miller kill, Powell ace and two kills from Llinas Rosa gave the Lancers an 11-9 lead.

CSUN would force ties at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 before a 4-1 spurt gave CBU a 19-16 edge. The run was started with two blocks, with Miller there each time, and ended on a Miller ace. It gave the Lancers enough of a cushion for a 25-22 victory. Melcher handed CBU set point with a kill and Miller ended it with another kill off a Melcher pass.

CBU came close to taking a two-set lead in the third. The visitors opened up on a 6-3 run and aces from Miller and Powell and a DeLyon kill. CSUN came back to force a 13-13 tie, but a 3-0 run highlighted by kills from Llinas Rosa and Garcia gave the Lancers a 16-13 edge.

Out of a timeout, Cal State Northridge found a way to come back and take the set. The Matadors took a 23-20 edge before Miller slammed down a kill and a CSUN error brought the Lancers within a point, 23-22. The Matadors escaped with the win as Jakub Ciesla notched consecutive kills.

In the fourth, Garcia posted four blocks and DeLyon smashed three kills on seven swings to bring CBU back in it. The Lancers rushed out to a 7-2 lead and continued to build their advantage to six, 12-6. A 3-0 run, ended on a Rohit Paul ace, ticked their lead up to 21-14.

Cal State Northridge managed to pull within four, 22-14, but a DeLyon kill put CBU back in control. The Lancers closed out the set with two blocks from Garcia.

It was the Matadors who took an early lead in the fifth, 6-2, but kills from DeLyon and Llinas Rosa brought CBU back within 6-4. A 4-1 response from CSUN would give them enough cushion for a 15-7 set and match victory.

UCLA and UC Santa Barbara head to the Van Dyne Gym next Thursday and Saturday, respectively, for 7 p.m. matches. Both opponents will be a challenge, with the Bruins currently ranked 12^th and Gauchos checking in at No. 8.