NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team redeemed themselves with a straight-set win over No. 9 CSUN Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Set scores were 25-18, 25-21, 29-27.
 
Kurt Nusterer's ace on UH's fourth match point clinched the victory and was payback after the Matadors swept the Rainbow Warriors just 24 hours earlier.
 
Hawai'i (22-3, 5-1 BWC) came ready to play from the start on Saturday and were never threatened until late in the third set when UH erased three set points. A pro-Hawai'i crowd urged the 'Bows to their 12^th sweep of the season.
 
UH improved to 5-1 in Big West play setting up a huge two-match series against Long Beach State next weekend in Honolulu. Both Hawai'i and the Beach are tied atop the Big West standings.
 
The Warriors were led by Kristian Titriyski, who had a team-high 12 kills, hitting .350 with two aces and two blocks. Hawai'i hit .342 as a team and tallied eight aces on the night, compared to only one on Friday. Nusterer and Finn Kearney also served two aces.
 
CSUN (16-8, 1-5) was led by Jalen Phillips, who tallied a match-high 16 kills. No other Matador managed more than five kills.
 
The Warriors limited Northridge to .164 hitting in the match.
 
UH used consecutive aces by Titriyski to take the lead midway through the first set and back-to-back aces by Kearney which spurred a 5-0 run and a 23-17 lead. Hawai'i went on to hit .444 in the set and served five aces.
 
The Warriors got off to a strong start in Set 2. Rosenthal's ace was part of a 7-1 run that put UH on top 15-8. The Matadors pulled within three at 23-20 but Titriyski helped secure the set, with kills on UH's final two points.
 
Hawai'i was on its way to the sweep, pulling away late in Set 3 with a 4-0 run for a 23-20 lead.  But the Matadors erased three match points and scored four unanswered for a 25-24 lead. Hawai'i then fended off three set points and Rosenthal's kill gave UH its fourth match. Nusterer's ace just trickled over the net to secure the victory.
 
Next week's 'Bows-Beach series is scheduled for Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Saturday's match is already sold-out, marking the 14^th all-time men's volleyball sellout in SimpliFi Arena.