Hawaii Pounds CSUN to Third Straight Loss

The Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team lost its third straight California Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. match Saturday night, a 15-8, 15-7, 16-14 thrashing by the University of Hawaii, and CSUN Coach John Price says the reason is simple.

“We’ve been making too many unforced errors,” Price said. “We’re not consistent enough. It’s been a problem that we’ve had for the last three weeks.”

CSUN failed to capitalize on early leads in all three games. Northridge led, 7-4, in the first game, before Hawaii outscored the Matadors 10-1, ending the spurt when Allen Allen (perhaps his parents stuttered) hit the ball off Northridge blockers for a point.

In the second game, the Matadors took a 4-0 lead on two service aces and a block by Mike Bird. The Rainbow Wahines got the ball back on a Matador service error, and went on to score 12 unanswered points. The Matadors scored three more times, but two CSUN offensive mistakes gave the Wahines game two, 15-7.

“We’re a slow-starting team,” said Hawaii Coach Alan Rosehill. “We’ve been having some passing problems, and we need passing to run our quick offense.”

Hawaii jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third game by passing the ball more effectively, enabling Pono Maa and Michael Among ample opportunity to score. CSUN fought back behind the hitting of Chuck English, who ended the match with 12 kills, and trailed 14-12. But Among got the ball back for the Wahines on a kill from the right side.

Hawaii scored three points in a row and clinched the match, 16-14, when Maa hit a ball off of Matador blockers.

Hawaii is 3-1 in the CIVA. CSUN (1-4 in CIVA) will play at home against Pepperdine Wednesday night.