CSUN Pulls Rank on Long Beach

NORTHRIDGE — Cal State Northridge got no respect in the preseason men’s volleyball rankings, but the Matadors earned some Tuesday night by defeating third-ranked Cal State Long Beach, 15-10, 13-15, 15-7, 7-15, 15-11, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match.

Northridge, unranked in the coaches’ national preseason poll, went into the game ranked eighth.

“They put us in the ‘teams to watch’ category,” CSUN Coach John Price said. “We get dogged every year at the beginning. I’m getting a little tired of it.”

Price’s 150th victory in 10 seasons at CSUN was important for other reasons.

“It was a huge win for us,” Price said. “It was huge from a confidence standpoint. Just huge.”

The Matadors (2-1, 2-0) didn’t trail in the final game. They took a 7-3 lead and wouldn’t let the 49ers (2-1, 1-1) back into the game. Jon Baer smashed a shot to the right side on match point.

Northridge came from behind to win the first game. Long Beach had a 10-9 lead but Peter Piexoto of the Matadors served out the last six points, including an ace on game point.

The teams exchanged leads in the second game before Long Beach took charge. On game point the 49ers’ Steve Walker blocked Jason Hughes’ spike.

The Matadors won the third game convincingly, taking an early lead and maintaining it.

Long Beach was ahead, 10-5, in the fourth game before the Matadors woke up, but it was too late.

Hughes, a sophomore from Royal High, had 20 kills and eight blocks. Baer had 32 kills for the Matadors and Oliver Heitmann added 15.

Tom Hoff had 35 kills for Long Beach.