CSUN Tops Air Force in Voleyball

Outside hitter Angela Roberts was the star of a basic-training skit put on by Colorado’s Air Force Academy after their women’s volleyball match against Cal State Northridge.

Roberts played the “dumb Californian” who knew nothing about the eastern way of going through military training.

CSUN Coach Walt Ker bent over with laughter as the Cadets, all from eastern regions, called the Lady Matadors out onto the court and proved Californians aren’t military.

They are volleyball players.

CSUN proved it in four games against the Falcons, 15-3, 15-9, 7-15, 15-7.

“They were real good out there,” Ker said of the Falcons. “But, the West Coast fairly dominates the sport. An eastern school has never won a Division I or II championship.”

The Lady Matadors, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, began their volleyball drills in the first game. Junior middle blocker Karen Lontka and Anna Garcia combined for six stylishly executed kills. And All-America center Shelli Mosby scored points three times by swinging her body 180 degrees to dunk the ball in the Falcons’ laps.

In the next game, CSUN showmanship became a lack-luster display of would-be scores. And the Air Force Academy took an early 4-1 lead.

But a two-minute long volley with the score at 9-9 brought the crowd of 300 and the Lady Matadors back to life. Outside hitter Dawn Eto made four kills in the ensuing play to hand CSUN the game.

The third game, could have been the last for the Falcons’ All-America setter Barb Martin. It was Martin’s last match of her collegiate career--a career of playing in Mosby’s shadow.

The senior played a brilliant game of setting, serving and often spiking to leave the Lady Matadors in the dust. Mosby was on the bench for Martin’s last stellar performance and Martin was allowed to shine alone.