15-4, 7-1Big West
CSUN
4-15, 3-4Big West
Cal Poly Sweeps Aside CSUN, Secures Seventh Straight Victory
10/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Cal Poly volleyball remained unbeaten in the month of October after recording its seventh consecutive victory, knocking off CSUN in three sets (25-22, 25-22, 25-16)) on Friday evening inside the Matadome. Freshman outside hitter Adlee Van Winden collected a match-high 17 kills, sophomore setter Taylor Nelson produced 32 assists and four service aces and senior libero Nicole Kessler recorded 18 digs.
Cal Poly hasn't been defeated in conference play since Sept. 26 – a span of 27 days – and downed the Matadors for the second time this season to improve to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in Big West play. The seven-victory run matches the longest conference-win streak for the Mustangs since 2007. It's also the ninth three-set triumph for Cal Poly this season, the most sweep victories the program has recorded since 2008.
Cal Poly hasn't dropped a set since Oct. 10 (falling in the second set to UC Santa Barabara) and has collected set victories in 18 of its past 19 frames, which includes five three-set wins over a six-match span.
Aeryn Owens led the Matadors with 12 kills, Maddie Liephardt had 30 assists and Katie Sato amassed 13 digs in defeat.
Nelson also compiled four blocks and seven digs for the Mustangs, while sophomore outside hitter Raeann Greisen delivered six kills and junior middle blocker Taylor Gruenewald and senior outside hitter Hannah Schleis sent home five kills apiece.
Cal Poly, as a team, recorded 12 service aces – the most by Cal Poly in over three seasons – which included three each from freshman libero Katherine Brouker and sophomore libero Bailey Roach.
With Cal Poly holding a 23-20 first-set advantage after a kill by Nelson, consecutive kills by CSUN trimmed the Mustang lead to 23-22. After a kill by Niemen, CSUN called time to set up their defense with Roach serving. Van Winden sent home final point after a kill and Cal Poly collected the opening frame, 25-22.
Cal Poly fell behind in the second set by scores of 6-1 and 7-3 before the Mustang offense roared to life. Successive kills by Greisen and Van Winden enabled Cal Poly to tie the second set at seven-all. At one point during the second set, Nelson collected three service aces during a stretch of five consecutive points for the Mustangs, who grabbed a 15-10 lead. CSUN, though, battled back to knot the frame at 15 and took a 17-15 advantage after back-to-back attack errors by Cal Poly. With the Mustangs ahead, 23-21, a Gruenewald kill sent Cal Poly to set-point, only to have Leiphardt record a kill for the Matadors and trim the deficit to 24-22. A ball-handling error doomed CSUN, as Cal Poly took the second set, 25-22 and a 2-0 match advantage.
During the third set, Cal Poly led by scores of 10-8 and 13-9 before collecting five of the next seven points to snatch a 18-11 lead after a Brouker service ace. Brouker delivered three straight service aces from 16-11 to 18-11, providing the Mustangs with momentum off her serve. Cal Poly led by as many as nine during the third frame (22-13), and the Matadors were only able to get as close as 23-16 before a CSUN ball-handling error and kill by sophomore middle blocker Caihla Petiprin collected the third set victory, 25-16, and three-set triumph for the Mustangs.
After not defeating CSUN for nearly four years – with the last win over the Matadors coming Oct. 13, 2011 heading into this season – the Mustangs failed to drop a single set to CSUN this season in taking both matches via sweep.
Cal Poly continues its conference-long, three-match road trip when visiting Long Beach State at 7 p.m. PT Saturday.
