Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Blocking propelled fourth-ranked Hawai`i for the second night in a row past fifth-ranked Cal State Northridge 30-27, 41-39, 30-27 Saturday at The Matadome.

With the win, the Warriors improve to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the Matadors drop to 8-7 overall and 4-6 in conference play.

Brian Waite had his team-high 12 kills for CSN while hitting a team-high .450, while Cary Hanson hit .296. But the Matadors struggled with the Hawai`i block for the second straight match as they hit just .128 (44-29-117) as a team. Northridge's leading hitter Dan Rhodes had six kills in the match but hit -.174 in the loss. James Lischer contributed eight kills and Travis Bluemling recorded 39 assists.

For Hawai`i, Jose Delgado posted a match-high 17 kills (.225) and Matt Carere chipped in 11 kills (.185). The Warrior middles Dio Dante and Maulia La Barre combined for 12 kills while hitting .647. The two led the way on the blocking front as Dante had 11 blocks (two solo) and La Barre posted seven blocks (two solo). Libero Alfred Reft had a match-high 13 digs and setter Brian Beckwith posted 51 assists and five blocks in the win. As a team, Hawai`i hit .218 (54-28-119) in the match.

In game one, Hawai`i took an early lead much the same way it did in Friday night's first match. The Warriors took a 9-2 lead after Dante, Beckwith and Delgado teamed up for a triple block on a Rhodes attack. The Matadors eventually cut the lead to one (11-10) after a Delgado hitting error. Northridge took the lead at 13-12 after a Carere error and held the lead until 18-17. But a Career kill and a Hanson error gave Hawai`i the lead back for good at 19-18. Vance answered tying the score at 19-19, but the Matadors could not retake the lead and wound up on the short end 30-27.

Game two went back and forth with no team holding more than a three-point cushion. Hawai`i led until 13-12, before the Matadors got kills from Waite and Vance to take a 14-13 lead. Northridge held the lead until 24-23 when Vance hit out forcing a Matador timeout. The Warriors then built their lead to three at 27-24, before Northridge battled back to tie the game at 28-28. Both teams had several chances to end things in the latter stages but neither could take advantage until 39-39. Hawai`i received a kill from Matt Bender and a Beckwith ace to post the 41-39 win.

Game three was tied 14 times, the last at 25-25 after a Hanson kill. But the Warriors took advantage of kills from Delgado and Carere plus a Rhodes hitting error to take a 28-25 lead. The Matadors got as close at two (28-26, 29-27) but would get no closer falling 30-27.

Hawai`i continues its four-match road trip next week as the Warriors take on No. 13 USC Feb. 27-28.