NORTHRIDGE, Calif. ? The CSUB volleyball team owned the match leaders in kills, assists and digs but Cal State Northridge still managed to secure a 30?23, 25?30, 30?21, 30?24 win Thursday night at the Matadome in Northridge.

Junior outside hitter Sarah Norman collected 19 kills while fellow Stockdale High alumnus Mystie McNaughton led all back row players with 18 digs. Junior setter Gabe Curtis chipped in a match?high 40 assists for Bakersfield (6?18 overall). But the Matador front line produced 18 total blocks to effectively stifle the CSUB offense and that proved to be the difference in the match.

Northridge (10?15) took the third game easily, but each of the other three games were fiercely contested. The Roadrunners stayed as close as 20?17 in game one and 23?22 in game four before the Matadors pulled away. In the second game, Bakersfield used a 6?0 run to turn a 16?14 deficit into a 20?16 lead it wouldn't relinquish en route to the win.

CSUB closes out the regular season at No. 30 Long Beach State Friday night. The 'Runners will then take two weeks off before concluding their first full NCAA Division I schedule at the Division I Independent Tournament in Orem, Utah.