CSUN Women 2nd in Volleyball Tournament

In its first outing as an NCAA Division I team, the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team finished second in the Arizona State tournament in Tempe on Saturday.

Northridge won two matches on the final day to finish the tournament 3-1, placing second behind 4-0 Texas Tech. All five schools in the tournament are Division I schools.

The Matadors (3-1) opened their day by sweeping Northern Arizona University, 15-7, 15-11, 19-17, and closed it by sweeping UC Irvine, 15-12, 15-10, 15-4.

Against Northern Arizona, Kathleen Dixon, a senior middle blocker for Northridge, led all players with 11 kills. Her twin, Marianne, also a middle blocker, added seven kills and had a .385 hitting percentage.

Northridge setter Beth Welch, a senior transfer from Washington State, had 32 assists and four service aces.

The Dixons also were effective in the blitzing of Irvine (1-3). Kathleen hit .375 with 11 kills, and Marianne had five kills and hit .385.

Welch added 31 assists and four more aces. Patricia Fitzsimmons totaled 13 kills in the two matches.

Outside hitter Jill Trehearne, stepping in for Nancy Nicholls, who sprained an ankle before the tournament, had eight kills against Northern Arizona and five against Irvine.

Kathleen Dixon and Welch were named to the six-player all-tournament team.