Matadors Are in the Deep End of Pool : Women’s volleyball: With few subs, coach worries about fatigue as CSUN faces four playoff matches in two days.

Lian Kang Lu has coached the Cal State Northridge women’s team to a 17-8 record in his first year at the helm, but he is concerned with the team’s lack of depth as the Matadors open pool play today in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Northridge, which has won five consecutive matches, will play Oregon State at 9:30 a.m. PST and Sam Houston State at 5 p.m., followed by contests Saturday against Connecticut (noon) and Minnesota (5 p.m.).

If the Matadors win their pool, they advance to the semifinals at 8 a.m. Sunday. The semifinal winners will meet in the championship match at 11 a.m.

“Because we don’t have many substitutes, I am worried about fatigue,” Lu said. “Playing four matches in two days will not be easy.”

Northridge is expected to use its standard starting lineup of outside hitters Missy Clements, Aimee Stone and Rene Goth, middle blockers Heather Anderson and Ana Kristich and setter Kathleen Shannon.

Erin Balderama will be used as a back-row substitute for Goth, but no other Northridge players are expected to play, barring injury.

Although Minnesota (18-14) and Oregon State (15-15) have unimpressive records compared to Sam Houston State (28-7) and Connecticut (27-7), Lu said they are the teams to beat. Many of their losses have come against tough Big Ten or Pacific 10 Conference opponents.

Northridge lost in four games to Oregon State on Oct. 8 before winning seven of its last eight matches.