Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The No. 13 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team (10-13, 7-11 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) lost a key league match and was swept by the No. 2 Cal State Northridge Matadors (19-4, 15-3 MPSF), 30-21, 30-25, 30-28, Wednesday night at the Matadome.

Wednesday's defeat had ramifications for the league standings. UH entered the series with the Matadors tied at seventh with UC Irvine (7-9 MPSF). Now with two-straight road losses, UH is ninth in the MPSF behind eighth place USC (7-10). Only the top eight squads make the post-season MPSF tournament. The Warriors only have four matches left on the season.

Freshman Brennon Dyer had another big night as he led the team with 12 kills. Dyer made his third straight start in place of James Clar. Fellow freshman Joshua Walker was second on the team with 11. Sophomore Ric Cervantes led the squad with 10 digs.

The Warriors came out sluggish against the Matadors and lost the first set 30-21. UH only hit 15 percent while CSUN hit for 43 percent. CSUN scored four consecutive points to increase their lead to 20-16 to stymie the Warriors.

The Matadors came out strong in the middle of the stanza and took game two, 30-25. CSUN went on a 7-1 run that gave them a comfortable 22-14 advantage. The Warriors did make it interesting down the stretch and rallied for three straight points to bring the score at 26-22 capped by a Jacob Schkud service ace. That would not be enough though and the Warriors faced a 2-0 deficit.

UH had ample opportunities to force a game four but could not capitalize on Matador miscues and fell 30-28. The Warriors had a 26-24 lead late in the game but CSUN went on a 3-0 run. The Matadors had difficulty closing out the game and recorded two service errors that allowed UH back into the game. The errors tied the set at 27 and 28 apiece but CSUN pulled it together to earn their 13th straight victory.

UH returns to Honolulu next week, April 3, for a two-match series with rival Brigham Young at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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