Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team's postseason hopes took a step backwards following a four-set loss to No. 14 Cal State Northridge, Saturday in the second of two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at The Matadome. Set scores were 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21.
 
The 12^th-ranked Warriors (7-16, 4-14 MPSF) dropped both matches to the Matadors and fell into 11^th place in the league standings. UH needs to finish among the top eight to qualify for the MPSF Tournament.

In the loss, senior outside hitter Steven Hunt became the 14th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career kills. He finished with 17 kills to lead the Warriors for the second straight night while also tallying a career-high five service aces.
 
Middle blockers Nick West and Jarrod Lofy each pounded seven kills with six blocks and combined to hit for .379.
 
Freshman Julius Hoefer led CSUN with a match-high 19 kills while Brandon Lebrok added 15.
 
The team who took the early lead in each set ended up winning. The Warriors rallied from a 23-19 deficit in Set 1 to score three straight and pull within one. But a Taylor Averill service ace and hitting error on consecutive plays, gave the Matadors the one set lead.
 
UH hit a dismal -.087 in Set 2 to fall behind two sets to none but rallied in Set 3 as Hunt tallied six kills and two aces in the frame to avoid a straight set loss. In Set 4, the Warriors led 16-14 at the midway point but allowed a 6-1 run as the Matadors took a 20-17 lead. UH closed to within one at 21-20 but Lebrock pounded three straight kills during a 4-1 spurt to close out the match.
 
Hawai'i returns to Honolulu for its final regular season home matches against Long Beach State, March 30-31. Following Saturday's match, seniors Hunt, Lofy, Nick Castello and Troy Crutchfield will be honored during the traditional Senior Night ceremony.