NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- After falling behind 1-2, No. 1 Pepperdine clawed its way back to a 3-2 win against Cal State Northridge on Wednesday evening. The Waves were a force at the net, outblocking the Matadors 21.5-9.0.
Set scores for the barn-burner were 25-15, 27-29, 25-27, 25-19, 15-12 to send Pepperdine to a perfect 4-0 record on the season. CSUN fell to 1-3. It was the Waves’ first win inside the Matadome since the 2011 season.
Nikola Antonijevic was impenetrable at the net, posting a career-high 12 blocks. Josh Taylor also set a new career high with eight roofs to go along with his 19 kills.
Reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Parker Kalmbach produced 18 kills, including the match-clinching point at 15-12 in the fifth frame.
Kyle Gerrans earned his second consecutive double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs. Brennan Anderson led the match with 12 saves from his libero position.
Matt West dealt 52 assists to lead Pepperdine to a .291 (60-23-127) clip.
Demani Lenore led the Matadors with 28 kills and pair of aces.
No. 4 Southern California 3, No. 5 Long Beach State 0
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Lucas Yoder had a match-high 19 kills while hitting .552 and Cristian Rivera added 17 kills and four blocks to lead No. 4-ranked Southern California to a 25-19, 25-22, 33-31 sweep at No. 5 Long Beach State in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match Wednesday.
The Trojans, playing their first MPSF road match of 2014, improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the MPSF. LBSU fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the MPSF.
Micah Christenson had 17 digs for Troy and Henry Cassiday added 15. Andy Benesh had eight kills while hitting .538 and Alex Slaught also had eight kills.
For the 49ers, Taylor Crabb and Dalton Ammerman each had 11 kills, with Ammerman adding seven digs.
USC hit .355 overall to LBSU's .188. The Trojans had 49 digs to the 49ers' 26.
