The California State University Northridge (CSUN) Matadors women’s volleyball team, holding a 4-4 record and riding a three-match winning streak, prepares to conclude the non-conference portion of their 2026 season with a home-and-home series against the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Lions. The series begins Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. PT at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, followed by a match Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. PT at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge.
LMU enters the series with a 7-2 overall record and was selected third in the West Coast Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Lions have won the last six meetings in this historic rivalry, leading the all-time series 18-17. Both matches will feature live stats, with the first game streamed on ESPN+.
CSUN senior outside hitter Hailey Brockway earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors after her performance at the Linda Murphy Ridge Invitational, where she was named Most Valuable Player. Brockway averaged 4.75 kills per set during the tournament and posted a career-high 26 kills in a four-set win over San Francisco.
Defensively, CSUN leads the Big West Conference and ranks fifth nationally in blocks per set, averaging 3.06. Senior middle blockers Iye Okolo and Tatiana Turgeon rank first and second, respectively, in the conference for blocks per set. Senior libero Paige Sentes stands second in the Big West in digs per set, with 4.13, moving into second place in school history with 1,328 career digs. Senior setter Katie Kolar ranks eighth in CSUN career assists with 1,955.
Following the LMU series, CSUN will begin Big West conference play with matches at UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.
CSB Take
This home-and-home series against a strong LMU team represents an early test for CSUN as they conclude their non-conference schedule. With Hailey Brockway’s recent offensive dominance and a nationally ranked blocking defense anchored by experienced seniors, the Matadors have the pieces to challenge LMU’s recent series supremacy. These matches will provide valuable experience and momentum heading into their Big West Conference opener.
Source: Original report
