Anteaters Spoil CSUN Senior Night With 3-1 Upset
November 29, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine ended the 2014 season with an upset over third-place CSUN, defeating the Matadors on their Senior Night, 28-26, 16-25, 25-23, 27-25 Saturday at the Matadome.
Marisa Bubica, who did not start, came off the bench and put away 24 kills while tying a career-high by pounding a .455 hitting percentage. Bubica was one of three Anteaters to reach double-figure digs with senior Allison Lee ending her collegiate career with 17 kills and a .306 clip to go along with two aces and 12 digs. Cassidy Pickrell also had a double-double with 16 kills and also fired a pair of service winners while leading the team with five block assists. Shelley Anderson handed out 57 assists in the win while Molly Yoder also ended her collegiate tenure by scooping up 13 digs.
The two teams played an even match in the first but CSUN was the first to build a considerable lead, out-scoring UCI 9-4 take a 17-12 lead on a kill by Casey Hinger, who led the Matadors with 23 kills. However, the Anteaters punched back with four consecutive points to cut the lead to one at 18-17 as Anderson and Arielle Manz sending back a Hinger attempt. The two teams traded points immediately after the timeout but CSUN crept back out to a three-point lead (21-18) on back-to-back kills by Julie Haake. UCI could not be denied as the team reeled off five unanswered points to grab a 23-21 advantage with Lee knocking down a pair of key kills. The Matadors knotted the score at 23 apiece and would keep pace with the Anteaters. However at 26-26, Anderson went to Bubica on consecutive plays and the outside hitter delivered to give UCI the set.
The Matadors put together their best set of the match to win the second frame. CSUN hit .481 while holding UCI to a .114 clip and sped out to a 12-9 lead as Hinger and Steffi Miller stopped Pickrell. The Anteaters looked to bounce back following a timeout but after a kill from Pickrell, CSUN went on an 9-1 run to take a 10-point lead (21-11). UCI made a dent in the margin, shaving three points off with Manz delivering a solo stuff on Sam Kaul but CSUN's Cieana Stinson gave the team set point and Pickrell's attempt missed as the Matadors tied the contest as a set apiece.
UCI warmed up in the third, hitting .211 while the Matadors cooled with a .140 percentage. At 6-6, the Anteaters mounted a 4-1 rally with Pickrell knocking down the assist from Anderson to give UCI a 10-7 edge. The duo of Hinger and Miller paired up to deliver a block and sparked a four-point run as CSUN tied the set at 14-14. Neither team was able to pull away but with the score tied at 23 points apiece, Lee delivered a decisive kill and Pickrell and Ella Rosenfeld stuff Haake for the game-winning point.
The final set proved to be equally competitive as the previous frames. At 10-10, an ace by Kelcie Randazzo coupled with a kill from Hinger prompted a UCI timeout at 13-10. Pickrell halted the Matador rally with a kill and the Anteaters caught CSUN at 14-14 as Pickrell aced Randazzo. Hinger's attack error on the next play gave UCI the lead (15-14) and was followed by a pair of kills from Bubica and a put-away from Lee that stretched UCI's lead to three at 18-15. Miller was called for a bad set (21-16) but the Anteaters hurt themselves with consecutive errors as CSUN came back with four straight points to tie the score at 24-24. The Matadors edged out in front at 25-24 as Haake and Kaul blocked Rosenfeld on the quick set but Pickrell tied the frame (25-25) with a kill. Following an attack error by Hinger, Bubica crushed a cross-court winner to complete the upset.
UCI finishes the season at 19-12 and finishes the season in fifth place in the Big West at 9-7.
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