Waves Pull Northridge Under Without a Struggle

As far as the playoffs are concerned, Cal State Northridge’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball match against Pepperdine Saturday night didn’t mean much.

Both teams were assured postseason berths.

The Matadors, third in the league’s Mountain Division, will likely travel to Long Beach State, ranked No. 2 in the nation, for a first-round game next week. The fourth-place Waves will play at top-ranked Hawaii.

But Saturday’s match had some meaning in that it was the last of the regular season for Pepperdine and Northridge’s final one at home.

In the end the 12th-ranked Waves came away with a 15-11, 12-15, 15-9, 15-12 victory after coming from behind to win in the fourth game.

The fifth-ranked Matadors looked flat and lethargic at the end, while Pepperdine picked up its game to seal the victory.

“We didn’t have the emotion or the fire tonight,” Northridge Coach John Price said.

“We played like the match didn’t matter and technically it didn’t matter.

“But as a coach I’m naturally concerned about their ability to compete. There wasn’t even any talking on the court.”

Pepperdine (15-10, 10-9 in MPSF play) broke away from an 8-8 tie in the first game by outscoring the Matadors, 7-3.

Freshman outside hitter George Roumain, who had a match-high 35 kills, blocked a shot to win the game for the Waves.

The Matadors jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second game, but Pepperdine tied it, 10-10, with a 7-2 run.

Northridge scored four points in a row and the Waves prevented two game points before Pepperdine outside hitter Kevin Barnett hit a shot into the net to give the Matadors the victory to even the match.

The third game was tied early, 4-4, but the Matadors scored only five points after that while the Waves went on to take a 10-5 lead.

Northridge (15-10, 10-8) dominated at the start of the fourth game with an 11-2 lead, but the Waves went on a lengthy run to tie it, 11-11, and eventually win.

The Matadors appeared to be ready to go home long before the game ended.

“We wanted to win, but I think we kind of played out of it,” Northridge middle blocker Chris Gil said.

“I don’t know, we just couldn’t execute. Maybe we were in a way looking ahead to the playoffs next week.”

Barnett, a transfer from Pierce College, had 29 kills for the Waves.

Middle blocker Dirk Schlueter led Northridge with 18 kills and Gil had 15.