Box Score
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The No. 13 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team (10-12, 7-10 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) lost a five-set thriller to one of the top teams in the country, No. 2 Cal State Northridge (18-4, 14-3 MPSF), 30-28, 41-43, 26-30, 30-22, 15-13, Tuesday at the Matadome.
CSUN improved to 8-0 at home this season and extended its win streak to 12 straight. The Warriors dropped to 3-6 on the road and look to rebound in the teams' rematch tomorrow night.
Freshman Brennon Dyer led the Warriors with a career-high 18 kills as he started in place of James Clar. Senior Jacob Schkud was second on the team with 12. Schkud recorded a new season and career high with five service aces. Sophomore Ric Cervantes set another record as he tallied a match-high 28 digs. That mark is a new MPSF rally scoring record and a new personal best for Cervantes.
The Warriors had the opportunity in the first stanza to start off strong against the Matadors. UH was up late in the game and up 24-22 off a CSUN net violation. However, the Matadors scored four straight points and UH did not recover and lost the game, 30-28. The Warriors could only manage 12 percent hitting while CSUN hit for 24 percent.
UH won a marathon in game two, 43-41, that featured 28 ties and nine lead changes. It was the most points scored by a Warrior squad since 2001 against UCLA (44-42). CSUN shot themselves in the foot as they tallied three service errors down the stretch that let UH back into the game. Both teams were tied for the last time at 41, and the Warriors rallied off two straight to take the game. This game was also the second highest score in MPSF history.
The Warriors defeated the Matadors in the third set 30-26 and went up 2-1 in the match. Both teams were neck and neck the entire game and tied late at 25 apiece. CSUN scored the next point but UH scored five consecutive points to close it out.
UH could not sustain any momentum against the Matadors and dropped the fifth set, 15-13. UH was up in the match but lost two straight to place them down at ninth place with USC in the MPSF. Both teams were tied at 8 but CSUN rattled off three straight points to gain the separation they needed from UH. The Warriors did get within one, 14-13, off a Schkud kill but would not get any closer.
UH and CSUN play again tomorrow night at the Matadome. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. HST).
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