CSUN Women Sweep Loyola in Volleyball

The Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team put aside the disappointment of its loss to 17th-ranked Oregon and swept Loyola Marymount on Saturday to finish fifth in the 16-team J.M.N. Premiere tournament at Cal State Fullerton.

The Matadors improved their record to 6-3 with a 15-9, 16-14, 15-1 triumph over the Lions, who upset defending NCAA champion Cal State Long Beach earlier in the tournament.

“We played really, really solid volleyball,” CSUN assistant coach Mora Kanim said. “It was a lot of fun after last night’s disappointment. Everyone came out with intensity and fire.”

A letdown would have been understandable considering that Northridge was within two points of upsetting undefeated Oregon on Friday night. The Ducks edged CSUN, 15-13, in the fourth game of the match, forcing a fifth and final game, which they won, 15-4.

Against Loyola, senior middle hitter Marianne Dixon recorded a team-high 14 kills.

“She played incredibly,” Kanim said. “She even played the back row and played well. Every time we’ve run out of substitutions and left her in the back row, she’s played great.”

Sophomore left-side hitter Nancy Nicholls contributed nine kills. Nicholls, the Matadors’ highest jumper and perhaps hardest hitter, missed the Oregon match to attend her sister’s wedding.

CSUN’s defensive effort was as equally strong. Patricia Fitzsimmons, Kathleen Dixon and Dawn Krenik each had 11 digs and Karen Scholl had 10.

Northridge’s blocking game also slowed the Lions.

“Nancy, Marianne and Kathleen did an excellent job of blocking,” Kanim said. “We were able to affect their best hitter, Kerry House. We got a lot of soft blocks, the kind that stay in play. Our transition game was very solid.”

The Matadors will take on Oklahoma today at noon in their home opener at Northridge Gym.

The Sooners were 2-2 going into their match Saturday night at UC Irvine. They lost to USC, 15-11, 15-6, 13-15, 15-4, on Friday despite an outstanding effort by middle hitter Gloria Holcum.