CSUN Bolsters Its Case for Playoff Berth

The Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team and Coach Walt Ker feel as if they have done their jobs.

Now they figure it’s time for the NCAA women’s volleyball committee to do its job and make the Matadors one of 32 teams invited to the Division I playoffs.

Northridge presented its final piece of evidence for the committee Saturday with a 15-9, 15-12, 9-15, 15-12 victory over Arizona in a regular-season finale at Matador Gymnasium.

The win was the 12th in a row for the Matadors--their longest winning streak since moving to Division I in 1990--and their 17th in 18 matches.

“If we don’t get invited, something is wrong with the system,” Ker said. “We’ve had a great year and we should be invited.”

Senior middle blocker Nancy Nicholls, who had 15 kills and seven total blocks for the Matadors, concurred.

“How could (the selection committee) deny a team that’s 27-7?” Nicholls said. “I don’t care if it’s politics or not, we’d better get in.”

In addition to ending the season with a flurry, Northridge also can point to a schedule of quality opponents.

Victories over three teams (No. 13 UC Santa Barbara, No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 24 Fresno State) ranked among the top 25 in the nation also should aid the Matadors in their quest to qualify for the Division I playoffs for the first time.

All that might have been moot had Northridge lost to Arizona (10-17), which took top-ranked and undefeated UCLA to five games Thursday before dropping the decisive game, 15-13.

“They definitely have some talent,” Ker said of the Wildcats, who are coached by Dave Rubio, the best man at Ker’s wedding. “But they’re still struggling with their consistency.”

The Matadors appeared to be on the verge of sweeping Arizona after hitting .459 and .217 in the first two games, but a .118 percentage in third game led to a loss.

With the score tied, 5-5, in the fourth game, Northridge went on a 6-0 run with Alison Wool serving to take an 11-5 advantage, but the Wildcats trimmed their deficit to 13-12 before the Matadors scored the final two points.