CSUN Women Hope the Sky Is the Limit

How does a team rebound from its worst season in history, a 2-29 record that included a 21-match losing streak?

Lian Lu, Cal State Northridge’s third-year women’s volleyball coach, believes he has the answer.

“We recruited a lot of players,” he said with a laugh. “A lot!”

Coaches in the Big Sky Conference, which Northridge joins this season, apparently aren’t falling for the numbers game. In a preseason poll, they picked the Matadors to finish last in the eight-team conference.

Lian predicts Northridge will finish in the top half of the conference and his confidence is based on a two factors. Five of six starters are back from last season and at least four of the team’s eight new players are expected to start.

Going into their opener tonight against the host school at the University of San Diego tournament, the Matadors not only have quality depth, but competition among players for starting positions.

Freshman Nicki Midwin, sophomore Nancy Ma and senior Kendra Dousette form a trio of new outside hitters. Midwin, 5 feet 11, might also play setter, her position at Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose.

Dousette, a 5-10 Montclair Prep graduate, is a transfer from the University of Toledo where she had 618 kills, 408 digs and 38 blocks in three seasons.

Ma, a 6-1 former Chinese junior Olympian, is a transfer from Zheng Zhou University. Ma, 23, has not played competitively since having knee surgery four years ago.

“But she’s a great all-around player and so far she looks good in practice,” Lian said. “She has great ball control and she is a good passer. She’s going to help us a lot.”

Carrie Kapfenberg and Holli Sierra, Northridge’s top hitters last season, are expected to play a lot. Kapfenberg, a 6-foot sophomore, led the team with 345 kills. Sierra was second with 258.

Newcomers Allwyn Fitzpatrick and Getty Dimitrova will split time at middle blocker. Fitzpatrick is a 5-11 junior transfer from the University of Memphis where she was a Great Midwest Conference All-Academic pick. In two seasons, she had 513 digs, 356 kills, 115 blocks and 82 service aces.

Dimitrova, a 6-4 junior from Bulgaria, was a junior college All-American at Southern Idaho, where she helped the Golden Eagles win to consecutive national championships.

“She can play the entire front row and she can do everything,” Lian said. “She’ll probably be the biggest blocker in the league.”

The Matadors are in great shape at setter with 5-10 senior Heather Hofmans. A transfer from Long Beach State, Hofmans led the Matadors with 910 assists and 264 digs last season, her first at Northridge. She also had 97 kills and 40 blocks.

Ellie Flato, a 5-9 freshman, is expected to push Hofmans. Flato was an All-Palomar League selection at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. She used her redshirt season at Pacific last year.

Erin Balderama, a 5-7 senior, has been the team’s top defensive player for three seasons. A knee injury that required surgery sidelined Balderama for the last six matches last year, but she is expected back in full force.

Northridge plays USC in its home opener Sept. 10 and is at Portland State for its Big Sky opener Sept. 19.