CSUN, Chapman to Collide Again--in Volleyball Playoff

Cal State Northridge and Chapman, opponents in tonight’s NCAA Division II women’s volleyball regional at the CSUN gym, are no strangers.

The Lady Matadors and Panthers have met twice this season in California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play, with Northridge winning each time.

In October, CSUN defeated Chapman, 21-19, 7-15, 15-3, 15-6, in a match at Northridge. At Chapman 3 weeks ago, the Lady Matadors won, 15-9, 15-7, 15-9.

Chapman, ranked 14th, is 24-19. The Panthers finished in a tie for fourth in the CCAA with a 4-8 record. Fourth-ranked Northridge, co-champion of the CCAA with an 11-1 record, is 30-11 overall. The Lady Matadors have won 22 of their past 24 matches dating to September.

All of which means absolutely nothing, according to Coach Walt Ker of Northridge.

“Our program is fortunate to be able to point to the end of the year,” Ker said. “Those games during the regular season are important, but they don’t carry near the intensity or importance of the playoffs.”

Northridge has been a team riding an emotional roller-coaster. CSUN tied UC Riverside for the CCAA championship, forcing a 1-match playoff to decide which team would receive an automatic berth in the playoffs. The Lady Matadors responded with what Ker said was their best effort of the season, winning in 4 games.

The next night, matched against top-ranked Portland State in a fairly meaningless tuneup, CSUN won the first game, 15-4, then lost the next 3. “We had a huge letdown,” Ker said. “We changed our whole persona on the court.”

Despite CSUN’s earlier wins over Chapman, Ker does not fear a similar dip in intensity tonight.

“We’ve been looking forward to this all year, and if we’re not emotionally ready now I don’t know when we will be,” he said.

Chapman’s top players are middle blocker Karen Burley and left-side hitters Dana Beardsley and Christy Anderson.

Northridge is led by setter Karen Langston and middle blocker Kathleen Dixon, both all-conference selections.