Senior outside hitter Lauren Goins had 20 kills, 20 digs and two aces
as Cal State Fullerton defeated Cal State Northridge 3-2 (15-30, 30-27,
16-30, 30-27, 15-12) in a thrilling five-game Big West Conference match
Friday Night in front of a loud house at Titan Gym.
Carley Dial and Alyssa Opeka combined for a block of a Matador smash to
end the deciding game giving the Titans their eleventh home victory of
the year to extend their school record. With the win the Titans improve
to 12-11 overall and 4-9 in the Big West snapping their eight-game losing
streak to Northridge. The Matadors fall to 13-9, 8-6 and continue a four-game
skid.
Goins had only 8 kills through the first three games that saw the Titans
get out-hit .267 to .135 but took over in game four as she smashed 9 of
the Titans 20 kills to give them an emotional 30-28 victory forcing fan-charged
game five.
Sarah Morrison and Alyssa Opeka both added 12 kills to the offense and
Freshman Vanessa Vella shored up the defense with her team-leading 23
digs.
Jen Ryan scored a double-double with 18 digs and her game-leading 25 kills
in the losing effort for Northridge. Three other Matadors added ten or
more kills, Delaney Menell (19), Becky Moores (14), and Heather Fobian
(13) each contributed to the Northridge offense that out-hit the Titans
.225 to .175 on the evening.
Jamie Crawford served 12 of the Matadors 30 points in game one putting
together both a five-service point streak, followed by a seven point streak
from the line to lift Northridge in that first game. She later added another
five-point streak in game three.
Tiffany Dolven and Opeka both had five blocks on the night (one solo block
each) and Dial added four of her own (two solo) as the Titans scored 10
total team blocks to the Matadors 4.
Cal State Fullerton looks ahead to tomorrow night as they bid for their
first victory ever against The Pacific Tigers who visit Titan Gym Saturday
night in another Big West Conference match at 7:00pm while Cal State Northridge
will travel to UC Riverside to face the Highlanders.
