CSUN’s Youth Comes Through

The Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team was without two starters Monday night, but it didn’t show. The fourth-ranked Matadors swept Brigham Young, 15-2, 15-5, 17-15 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at Matador Gymnasium.

Freshman Cameron Green and sophomore Peter Piexoto played so well that Ken Lynch, an injured All-American, and Craig Hewitt, who is serving the second of a three-match disciplinary suspension, will have to win back their starting positions, CSUN Coach John Price said.

Green made seven kills and seven digs, and Piexoto delivered a team-high five service aces to help CSUN improve to 2-0.

Two-time All-American Coley Kyman led the Matadors with 22 kills. Axel Hager added 16 kills, and Jamal Thompson made four blocks and recorded 13 kills with a team-leading 52% hitting percentage.

Kyman, playing on a right knee that was surgically repaired only 2 1/2 weeks ago, demonstrated surprising mobility with a play that tied the third game, 9-9.

As BYU’s Hugh McCutcheon was winding up for a kill, Kyman and Piexoto had a double block set up at the center of the net. Instantly, Kyman slid to his left, covering five yards in a blur to make the block all by himself.

BYU (0-3) took a 10-9 lead, but Northridge surged ahead 12-10 on aces by Piexoto and Kyman and a dig by Piexoto that landed in the middle of the confused Cougars.

The Cougars rallied for a 13-12 advantage that was wiped out on a kill by Green that tied it at 13. BYU regained the lead on a block, but on game point setter Matt Unger gave CSUN a side out with a dink that sent the Cougars diving to the floor.

Kyman’s kill tied it at 14, but an ace by BYU’s Kevin Hambly, a sophomore from Simi Valley, put BYU ahead, 15-14.

After a series of sideouts, CSUN got the serve back for good on a kill by Hager. A clutch dig by Piexoto enabled Kyman to score the 15th point with a thundering kill.

“I wanted that ball badly and I showed it when I put it away,” said Kyman, who ignored pain in his knee throughout the match.

Hager’s cross-court kill and a BYU hitting error sewed it up for the Matadors.