Idaho Squeaks Past Northridge

There were plenty of long faces among members of the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team after a five-game loss to Idaho at Matador Gymnasium on Wednesday, but first-year Coach Lian Kang Lu liked what he saw.

Although Idaho’s 9-15, 15-8, 15-10, 13-15, 15-12 victory was Northridge’s fourth loss in five matches, Lu was particularly pleased with the way the Matadors (4-4) played after outside hitter Rene Goth was forced to leave the match late in the first game with a sprained right ankle.

“In this situation, we played very good,” Lu said. “I don’t care whether we win or lose, as long as we fight, and tonight we did.”

Goth, a 5-foot-10 freshman from Buena High, was making her first start because Stephanie Pfau was ill.

When Goth left, she was replaced by Erin Balderama.

Balderama has played solidly this season as a back-row substitute, but at 5-7, she was giving away as much as six inches in height to Idaho’s attackers along the front row.

Although the Vandals (8-1) failed to exploit the mismatch in the last part of Game 1, they frequently took advantage thereafter.

“Idaho is a very good team,” Lu said. “They are (defending) Big Sky Conference champions and they take advantage of situations when they get the chance.”

After losing the second and third games, Northridge trailed for most of the fourth game, but fought back from a 10-8 deficit to win, 15-13.

Northridge tied the score, 12-12, and after 14 consecutive sideouts, took a 14-12 lead.

After several sideouts, the Matadors won the game when Idaho was whistled for a lifted ball.

The lead see-sawed back and forth for the first half of Game 5--which was played under the rally point scoring system--but Idaho outscored Northridge, 5-1, during one stretch to take a 12-8 lead and the Matadors couldn’t get closer than two after that.

Missy Clements had 24 kills--with a .333 hitting percentage--for Northridge and teammate Aimee Stone contributed 20 kills and a match-high 19 digs.