Piggott, Nordyke Pace Anteaters to Sweep of Cal State Northridge
Nov. 7, 2009
IRVINE, Calif. --- Juliane Piggott recorded a match-high 18 kills to lead UC Irvine to a sweep (26-24, 26-24, 25-17) of Cal State Northridge Saturday at Crawford Court. The win lifted UCI to 19-6 overall (8-4 Big West) while CSUN fell to 7-18 overall and 3-8 in conference matches.
Piggott hit .359 for the match, committing just four errors in 39 swings while Larissa Nordyke blasted a .370 percentage, putting away 11 of 27 attempts with one miscue. Kristin Winkler led all players with 18 digs while Taryn Robertson handed out 38 assists while picking up 12 digs and putting up a pair of blocks. Alexandra Hauser and Courtney Moeller each had four block assists.
CSUN was led by Lynda Morales, who had 11 kills while Angela Hupp totaled 17 assists, seven kills and nine digs. Monica McFarland totaled a team-best 16 digs. The two teams traded points in the first set until at 13-13, UCI went on a 4-1 run to take a 17-14 lead on a kill by Piggott. The margin extended to four points at 20-16 as Piggott and Moeller denied Morales at the net. However, at 22-17, the Matadors scored seven straight points to take a 24-22 lead. UCI answered, reeling off four consecutive points, winning the frame on consecutive attack error by Puneet Pataria.
The Anteaters built an early four-point lead at 9-5 on a kill from Nordyke to cap 4-1 rally. CSUN chipped at the lead, scoring three straight to close the gap to two points at 17-15 on a kill from Hupp. At 19-15, Brittney Graff's attempt rode the tape and dropped in for a kill, sparking a Matador rally. CSUN eventually tied the set at 23-23 on a service ace by Tela Burnett and a kill by Morales. Moeller put away the ball on the slide to give UCI set point at 25-24 and Nordyke tooled off the block to stake UCI to a 2-0 set lead.
In the final set UCI pulled away from an 11-11 tie and used an 8-2 run to take a 19-13 lead. The Matadors never threatened in the frame and at 22-17, the Anteaters scored the final three points for the win.
