Northridge Pulls Rank on Gauchos

Forget that UC Santa Barbara’s volleyball team is ranked third nationally and Cal State Northridge is sixth.

The Matadors’ 16-14, 15-11, 16-17, 15-13 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation victory over the Gauchos on Tuesday night is more impressive when considering Santa Barbara’s only conference loss this season was to top-ranked and undefeated Hawaii.

“This is huge for us because Santa Barbara beat UCLA and Hawaii, and we beat them,” Northridge Coach John Price said. “This is really going to help us in the playoffs.”

After exchanging leads throughout the first game, the Gauchos (4-3, 4-2 in MPSF play) broke a 10-10 tie with a 4-1 run. But with his team trailing, 14-11, Chad Strickland went to the service line for Northridge and scored four consecutive points to give the Matadors a 15-14 lead. Jason Hughes served for the game and Strickland put the return away.

The Matadors (5-4, 4-2) also played catch-up in the second game. They trailed, 8-3, and went on an 8-2 run to take an 11-10 lead. After the Gauchos tied the score, setter Dan Nash served four consecutive points to seal the game for the Matadors.

Northridge should have put the match away by winning the lengthy third game.

The Matadors had two match points, but Santa Barbara kept coming back with scrappy plays. Finally, Northridge outside hitter Collin Smith pounded a shot long to give the Gauchos the 17-16 victory.

The Matadors had a 10-5 lead in the final game, but Santa Barbara went on a 6-0 run to take an 11-10 advantage.

The Gauchos fought off six match points before Donny Harris, a graduate of La Canada High, smacked a cross-court shot to end it.