For Northridge, It’s Six Over Eight in Four

MALIBU —  Minutes before the start of Tuesday night’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball match between Cal State Northridge and Pepperdine, a woman put up a colorful banner in the gym that read: “Matadors Can’t Surf.”

But Northridge spent the night riding the Waves to a 15-12, 15-7, 8-15, 15-13 victory.

“You got to give them credit, they played great tonight,” Pepperdine Coach Marv Dunphy said. “They really dug the ball at critical times.”

The Matadors (6-5, 5-3 in the MPSF), are ranked sixth nationally.

No. 8 Pepperdine (6-4, 1-4) have been hampered by the injury of outside hitter George Roumain, who has been out since Jan. 25 because of a broken bone in his left wrist.

He returned for he first time since the injury toward the end of the second game against the Matadors. He wore a soft cast on the wrist and recorded 14 kills.

“He’s extremely talented,” Northridge Coach John Price said. “Just wait till he recovers and becomes consistent. It will be scary what he can do in this league.”

The Matadors took advantage of his absence in the first game. Northridge scored five consecutive points and went on to take a 12-4 lead before Pepperdine went on an 8-2 run to come within 14-12.

The Waves held off one game point, but couldn’t score after the sideout and Jason Hughes of Northridge smashed a cross-court shot to finish the game.

Pepperdine also fell behind early in the second game. Northridge held an 11-3 lead before the Waves showed signs of life but it was too late. Middle blocker Dirk Schlueter served for the game and outside hitter Ed Bond nailed the return down the right side for Northridge’s final point.

The Waves took a 6-3 lead in the third game and never looked back. Northridge threatened by coming to within 7-6 but Pepperdine broke away with an 8-2 run.

Northridge had a 12-5 lead in the final game, but the Waves went on an 8-2 run and threatened to come back by holding off 12 Matador match points.

Northridge outside hitter Chad Strickland, who had 22 kills, ended the match with a powerful shot down the middle.

“I think we got tentative with our serve in the last game and that’s why we had a tough time putting it away,” Price said. “I never felt like we were in control of the match anyways. We were just fighting to stay in it, like going with the current.”

CSUN’s Collin Smith had 17 kills.