Northridge Digs Up Big Sky Title

After Cal State Northridge dug itself a hole, Amy Gillis dug just about everything else.

The Matadors rallied to beat Sacramento State, 8-15, 12-15, 15-7, 15-10, 15-13, Saturday night to win the Big Sky tournament at Northridge.

Cal State Northridge (22-10) earned the conference’s only automatic berth to the 48-team NCAA tournament that begins Dec. 4.

After spotting Sacramento State (23-10) a 2-0 lead in games, the Matadors staged a turnaround a little like the one they pulled off after beginning the season 0-8.

Northridge has won 16 consecutive conference matches and 22 of 24 matches.

Gillis, a junior outside hitter, set a tournament record with 44 digs in the match.

“Oh my God, I’m astounded,” said Gillis, who also had 20 kills and two blocks. “I had to be on. They hit so hard, I had to give it everything. It was awesome. This was the best comeback.”

It was the first time this season the Matadors rallied from two games down.

The Matadors began to climb back into the match in the third game, in which middle blocker Getty Dimitrova collected eight kills and four blocks. She finished with 25 kills, 14 digs and nine blocks.

With Dimitrova providing the offense, Northridge jumped to a 7-0 advantage and the Hornets never recovered.

They couldn’t, largely because of Gillis, who had 25 digs in the first three games and kept the Hornets from putting the ball down.

Northridge took an early lead in the fourth game and never trailed. Dimitrova had eight kills and three blocks, and Gillis had 15 digs.

The Matadors broke seven ties in the fifth game.

With eight kills and eight digs from Nancy Ma and seven kills and 11 digs by Gillis, Northridge appeared to have the second game in hand, too. The Matadors built a 12-8 lead, but Sacramento State rallied to tie, 12-12, and scored the last three points on kills by Haas, Carissa Buie and Lyn-Dee Engle.

The Matadors fell behind in the first game as Sacramento State picked up everything sent its way.

Only Dimitrova, with four kills, had any success as the Matadors satisfied themselves with tips and soft hits to the middle while the Hornets were swinging away.