NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – In a match that saw 18 ties and eight lead changes, the Lipscomb University volleyball team earned a weekend split of their California trip with a four-set victory at California State University Northridge, Saturday evening from the Premier America Credit Union Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Cal State Northridge 1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Location: Northridge, California (Premier America Credit Union Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (3-5), Cal State Northridge (5-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons saw themselves in a hole early, as the Matadors had a 13-7 lead early in the opening set. 

Lipscomb would rally, as two kills from Ella Durham and a Kelsey Schence service ace swung the lead back to the visiting team, 18-17. 

Despite an effort by CSUN on the next point, LUV finished the match on a 7-3 run, including back-to-back aces by Durham and two of Courtney Jones's five kills in the set to win 25-21. 

Set two saw five ties and four lead changes, but a 73% side-out percentage by the Matadors thanks to nine attack errors by the Bisons was the decider in the 25-19 win for CSUN. 

Lipscomb showed life in the set with a 10-9 lead thanks to an attack error by Amaris Smith, but a Bison service error sparked an 11-5 run by the Matadors that helped them even the match at a set apiece. 

The Bisons won the first two points of set three and never looked back, as they started with a 10-3 run, including back-to-back spikes by Anna Claire Brown. 

Despite the Matadors making it a 10-7 affair and a 24-22 deficit, LUV hit .324 on the set with 18 kills, matching the most in a set this season, as they cruised to a 25-22 victory as Sydney Strenger helped the Bisons take a 2-1 lead in the match. 

Set four was a back-and-forth bout. Lipscomb did get out to an 11-8 lead with a Jones kill, but Cal State Northridge evened it at 13 with a Tatiana Turgeon ace. However, Brown's kill gave LUV the 15-14 lead at the media timeout. 

Later, CSUN had a lead of 20-18, but it did not last, as Berkley MIschler's kill tied the set at 21. 

Later, after Jones's 20th kill of the day to tie the set at 22 points apiece, two Durham spikes were enough to give the Bisons the four-set win, taking the frame 25-23. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from Brandon Rosenthal after the match. 

KEY STATISTICS
Courtney Jones posted her first 20-kill performance of the season with 20 on Saturday and added nine digs. 

Ella Durham swung .300 on the day and posted a new career-high in kills with 12. The junior transfer also had three aces. 

Kelsey Schenck also matched Durham with three aces and added seven digs. 

Berkley Mischler had 11 kills and committed two attack errors on 19 swings with two blocks, while Sophia Hudepohl had her second 50-assist performance of her career and 24th in her career with 52. 

UP NEXT
The Bisons return home for a two-match home stand, starting with UC Irvine on Thursday night at 6 p.m. from Allen Arena.