CSUN Gets a Lecture, Then a Win

Coach John Price gave his Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team an option before its match against Loyola Marymount Wednesday night: Put up or shut up.

“If they don’t play well tonight,” Price said before the match, they’re going to be watching freshmen playing CSUN volleyball. I’m tired of making excuses for them.”

The Matador seniors tossed that choice around for five games and almost three hours before making a decision: a 15-13, 16-14, 10-15, 15-17, 15-5 California Collegiate Volleyball Assn. victory.

“I’ve been asking for it,” Price said. “Now I’m demanding it. It’s time for them to start performing.”

It was far from perfection, but CSUN (2-8) finally produced a win for the home crowd.

The Matadors won the first two games behind the accuracy of Chuck English and Mark Stein. The two seniors made nine kills each in the second game. Senior John Buffington also contributed to the Matadors’ .676 team percentage with eight kills. English finished the match with a season-high 34 kills.

CSUN struggled in a 42-minute side-out exchange in the third game, finally losing it to sophomore Henry Bryan, who made six kills for Loyola in temporarily taking away what could have been CSUN’s first easy victory.

CSUN led 9-5 before giving up momentum to the Lions (2-6). Loyola’s Ole Sorlie took advantage of the swing and made 10 of his 22 kills to extend play.

“I didn’t think it would go that long,” Stein said. “Our defense really picked up, but they played well near the end.”

The Matadors had another chance at an earlier victory in the fourth game. The Matadors led 14-11 before surrendering the lead that forced the match into the decisive fifth game.

“We really made a lot of good plays out there,” Loyola Coach Kevin Cleary said. “We just didn’t take advantage of the easy chances.”

Whereas CSUN showed signs of fatigue in the fourth game, the Matadors finally charged into the final rallies with a 12-5 lead.