Top-ranked Cal State Northridge stops USC

Tanner Nua had 17 kills and Theo Edwards added 16 as the Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team validated its No. 1 national ranking with a 30-26, 30-28, 9-30, 26-30, 15-10 victory over No. 2 USC in front of a capacity crowd Wednesday night at the Matadome.

Northridge took sole possession of first place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

It was the Matadors’ 15th consecutive victory over USC dating to March 2004.

Northridge took a 3-0 lead in the decisive game and never relinquished it. Nua served two straight aces to end the match. Kevin McKniff and Jacek Ratajczak each added 11 kills for Northridge.

“I can’t really explain our success against them because they are a great team,” said Northridge Coach Jeff Campbell.

The Matadors (9-1 overall, 6-1 in league play) are off to their best start ever and moved up two spots to No. 1 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Assn. poll after wins over then-No. 2 ranked Stanford and Pacific last weekend.

It is the fourth time in school history that Northridge has been ranked No. 1, including two straight weeks last season.

Tony Ciarelli had 19 kills and Murphy Troy added 17 for the Trojans (6-3, 4-2).

-- Steve Galluzzo