California State University Northridge Women’s Volleyball secured a 3-2 comeback victory over California Baptist in a Big West Conference match on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, California. The Matadors rallied in a tightly contested five-set match with scores of 25-15, 21-25, 25-11, 23-25, and 15-10.
With the win, CSUN improved to 10-13 overall and 6-7 in conference play, ending a two-match losing streak. Sophomore outside hitter Fallyn Blotzer led the team with 21 kills on 41 swings and a .390 hitting percentage. Audrey Nuckols contributed a strong offensive performance with 15 kills on 25 attacks, hitting .520, and delivered the match-winning kill in the decisive fifth set.
Setter Katie Kolar paced the offense with a match-high 42 assists and added 12 digs for her tenth double-double of the season. Defensively, CSUN dominated with 16.5 total blocks and a 70-49 team advantage in digs. Freshman Raegan Richardson led all players with 17 digs, helping the Matadors maintain defensive resilience throughout the closely contested match.
The match featured multiple momentum swings and lead changes, with CSUN taking early control in the first and third sets, while California Baptist battled back in the second and fourth to push the contest to a decisive fifth set. CSUN held critical advantages late in the final set, ultimately securing the victory with Nuckols’ final kill at 15-10.
Head Coach Aquiles Montoya commended the team’s resolve and adaptability, stating, “We told our players we wanted them to be brave, be adaptable, and be selfless and they felt really good about that. There were some dips here and there in some sets, but you could tell in that fifth set that they weren’t going to let up. Fallyn really came alive with 24 points and Audrey coming alive on the right side as well.”
The Matadors will conclude their homestand against UC Riverside on Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m. at Premier America Credit Union Arena, with the match streaming live on ESPN+.
CSB Take
CSUN Women’s Volleyball’s five-set victory over California Baptist underscores the team’s perseverance and ability to perform under pressure in critical conference play. Strong contributions from key players like Fallyn Blotzer and Audrey Nuckols highlight the Matadors’ offensive capabilities, while their collective defensive efforts keep them competitive in tight matches. This win is an important step forward for CSUN as they seek to close the season strong and position themselves for postseason opportunities.
Source: Original report
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