Northridge Seeks Quick Improvement : Women’s volleyball: After stumbling out of the gate, Matadors hope to make amends in their own invitational.

The Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team needs to hurry up and get better.

The inaugural Northridge Invitational tournament begins today at the CSUN gym, and the Matadors (1-3) are scheduled to face the University of San Diego (at 12:30 p.m.) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (8 p.m.) in the first round of round-robin action.

Northridge opened its season in the Boise State Labor Day Classic last weekend by finishing in a tie for fourth in the sixth-team field, but Coach Walt Ker said the Matadors could have won two of the matches they lost.

“We were very close and I don’t think we were playing very good volleyball at that point,” Ker said.

Northridge hopes to turn its fortunes around quickly and might be expected to secure a few much-needed victories today and Saturday. The Matadors were 29-9 last season, the best record of any team in the tournament.

Cal State Fullerton (8-30 in 1990) and UC Irvine (9-21) complete the tournament field.

“Right now I’m thinking that USD (15-16) is the best team because we play them (first) at 12:30,” Ker said. “That’s the way we have to motivate for every match,” he said.

Northridge will need a continued strong effort on the front line from Missy Clements and Ana Kristich, its freshman duo from La Habra High.

Clements, an outside hitter, overcame an abdominal injury to lead the Matadors with 15 kills in their only victory so far, a sweep of Utah. Kristich had 11 kills in a loss to Idaho State.

Alison Wool, a redshirt sophomore, also impressed Ker with her play at Boise State. “It just seemed like the ball was always in a really attackable position,” Ker said. Nancy Nicholls found her niche at middle blocker when Clements started on the outside in CSUN’s victory over Utah.

Veterans Patty Fitzsimmons and Karen Scholl will provide the backbone of the Northridge defense, the backbone of the Matadors’ game. Scholl, who Ker says is the best passer and defensive player on the team, will replace junior Shelly Swalec who sustained a sprained ankle last week and is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

Northridge will be facing relatively experienced opponents in the tournament. San Diego and Fullerton each have five returning starters. Outside hitter Becky Howlett of Fullerton, the Big West Conference’s freshman of the year last season, is a factor to contend with, even though the Titans were 0-3 in last weekend’s Colorado State tournament.

Sonja Van Winden, a 6-foot middle blocker, and setter Kim Kaaiai are the top players for San Luis Obispo (13-23 in ‘90).

On Saturday, Northridge is scheduled to play Fullerton at 12:30 p.m. and Irvine at 8. The team that finishes round-robin play with the best record will be deemed tournament champion.