Middleton Serves Land Northridge in NCAA Finals

Walt Ker has a new secret weapon he calls the “big bomber,” and the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball coach used it to pick up his 300th career victory Friday night.

The unveiling was presented in the form of Keira Middleton’s serving as CSUN posted a 13-15, 15-12, 15-7, 15-6 victory over Chapman in the NCAA Division II regional playoffs at Northridge.

Middleton had 6 service aces and numerous winners to lead the Lady Matadors to a berth in the Division II national championships for the eighth consecutive year. The 8-team tournament will be held Dec. 9-11 at a site to be determined. Middleton was named the outstanding player in the 1-match playoff and deservedly so, according to both coaches.

“Middleton’s serving was the difference in the match,” Chapman Coach Tom Read said. “Every time she came around to serve, we thought ‘Oh, no, what are we going to do?’

“She broke our backs at the critical times and on the critical points.”

Said Ker of Middleton: “She had a great serving match. We felt we needed more weapons and she’s turned out to be a nice weapon.”

Chapman, which finished fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn., started fast in its upset bid against Northridge, which tied for the conference title.

The Panthers won the first game and almost pulled out the second game when, trailing, 8-2, Chapman scored 7 consecutive points to take a 9-8 lead. CSUN responded with 5 unanswered points and went on to win the game and even the match.

Northridge (31-11) took control in the third game, scoring 8 consecutive points to break a 7-7 tie. Middleton had 3 of her 13 kills and an ace during the rally.

Marianne Dixon had a team-high 17 kills for CSUN and her twin, Kathleen, added 15 kills. The Dixons had a combined .439 hitting percentage.