COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS : Stanford Blocks CS Northridge Bid for WIVA Regional Playoff Berth
The Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team lacked momentum and experience Wednesday night as it fell to Stanford, 15-13, 4-15, 10-15, 15-10, 6-15.
“They had that little extra edge,” CSUN middle blocker Ron Graening said. “When it came down to the wire it made all the difference.”
CSUN (12-16, 2-9 in conference), ranked 10th in the nation, needed a win over Stanford to secure a place in the four-team Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. regional playoffs. Stanford (15-8, 5-5 in conference), ranked seventh in the nation, already secured a spot in the playoffs.
“We had to win this one,” Stanford Coach Ruben Nieves said. “We wanted to solidify our place at regionals.”
CSUN charged through the first game and closed out the Cardinal, 15-13. But Stanford came back to easily win the next two games.
In the fourth game, CSUN took an early lead behind middle blocker Jeff McClean, who had 13 kills and 10 digs. The Matadors led, 12-5, and then withstood a Stanford charge to win, 15-10.
Stanford raced to a 12-3 lead in the final game and closed CSUN out, 15-6.
Graening led CSUN with 19 kills.
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