Northridge Outlasts Sacramento

There were more than a few precarious moments, but the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team won a battle of the elements Thursday night in its own back yard.

Facing a determined swarm of Hornets from Cal State Sacramento and the draining heat of Matador Gym, Northridge battled to a 13-15, 15-10, 12-15, 15-6, 15-13 nonconference victory.

“We competed just well enough to win,” Northridge Coach Walt Ker said. “But (the win) is not one you want to frame and put up on the wall.”

After Sacramento (6-12) overcame a 9-5 deficit to tie the score, in the fifth game, the Matadors (8-5) were on the verge of blowing the match.

But when it counted most, CSUN turned to its offense and came out a winner.

“I think that’s what really saved us,” said Northridge freshman Ana Kristich, who finished with 17 kills, 11 digs and five blocks. “Our determination came in right there.”

Junior middle hitter Nancy Nicholls led CSUN with 18 kills in 36 attempts and teammates Missy Clements (16 kills) and Karen Scholl (13 kills, 25 digs) also enjoyed productive nights on offense.

Scholl spiked the ball on match point off Alison Wool’s 63rd set assist of the match.

Sacramento, which dropped its seventh match in a row, was led by outside hitter Rachel Wieck, who finished with a match-high 21 kills in 52 attempts.

The Hornets, in their first season of NCAA Division I competition, won the first game thanks to the steady hitting of left-hander Wieck and some inopportune defensive lapses on the part of CSUN.

The second game had the makings of an upset as the Hornets opened an 8-1 advantage before Northridge decided enough was enough and went on a 14-2 run behind the hard hitting of Nicholls.

Sacramento State took a short-lived 2-1 lead in games a short while later by taking advantage of six CSUN service errors in game three, but Kristich sparked CSUN to a fast start in the fourth game to get the Matadors even.

Northridge junior Dawn Krenik, who is known for her defensive skills, gave the Matadors a significant lift on offense and finished with eight kills and six digs.

Northridge finished with 16 service errors and the Hornets had 15.