UCLA
Cal State Northridge
Bruins Outblock Matadors for Win
February 07, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
The ninth-ranked men's volleyball team controlled the net with a season-high 34 block assists on the way to a four-set win over Cal State Northridge on Friday night at the Matadome. Scores of the Bruin win were 25-17, 17-25, 25-18, 25-16.
UCLA's blocking efforts were led by sophomore Mitch Stahl who totaled a career-best nine block assists for the match. Jake Arnitz and Eric Matheis each added six block assists. Christian Hessenauer and Trent Kersten registered five blocks apiece.
UCLA dominated set one, outhitting the home team .458 to -.083 and recording 6.5 total blocks. Stahl and Hessenauer each were credited with three blocks. The Bruins jumped out to a 6-3 lead and built it up to 12-7 after a run of four straight points. Stahl and Hessenauer combined for a block to make 15-9. A Stahl kill made it 17-12. Stahl and Matheis teammed up for a block on set point in a 25-17 win.
The Bruins went cold in set two, hitting just .056. After the score was tied at seven, Northridge began to pull away taking leads of 10-13 and 13-21. The Matadors won the set 17-25.
Hessenauer helped the Bruins get off to a good start in set three. His kill made it 3-1. After a Matheis and Kersten block, UCLA enjoyed a 10-5 edge. A Stahl and Matheis block grew the gap to 13-6. A Hessenauer kill made it 17-12 and another blast handed UCLA the set at 25-18.
Set four went the Bruins' way in a hurry. UCLA quickly took a 7-3 lead. Hessenauer's ace made the score 11-5. He added a kill for a 16-8 advantage. The Bruins built the margin up to 21-11. Two kills by Arnitz ended the set at 25-16.
Arnitz hit .435 for the match and led the team with 14 kills. Hessenauer was right behind with 13 kills and hit .333. Matheis recorded 36 set assists. J.T. Hatch had nine kills and a couple of aces.
The Bruins (6-4, 2-4) now return home for the next three matches, beginning with a date on Feb. 13 against No. 8 UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
