CSUF volleyball team’s six-match win streak snapped by rebel forces

The Rebel Challenge proved a little too challenging for Cal State Fullerton’s volleyball team over the weekend.

The team, which had sustained a six-match winning streak, fell to Eastern Kentucky, Fordham and UNLV during the weekend tournament in Las Vegas.

The Titans showed a tremendous amount of fight in Friday’s match against Eastern Kentucky, rallying to take sets three and four after dropping the first two sets. In the fifth and deciding set, Fullerton got things as close as 14-13 after trailing 13-9. Unfortunately, the Titans just didn’t have enough gas left to win the fifth.

Three Titans ended up with double-figure kills: Madeline Schneider, Tyler Fezzey and Felicia Marshall.

That night, the team battled in every set, but just didn’t have enough to get over the top, as tournament host UNLV defeated the Titans 3-0. Schneider led Fullerton in kills for the eighth time this season, as she accumulated 14 on the night. Savahna Costello led the Titans in digs with 10, while Courtney Mueller was the team’s assist lead with 15.

On Saturday, Fordham was a few steps ahead from the beginning. However, after being handily defeated in the opening set, the Titans proved they weren’t overmatched, as they dropped the second set by five and the third set by just two points. Marshall and Fezzey led the Titans with nine kills each.

Earlier, Schneider, Marshall and Neena Dimas earned spots on the Terrier Invitational All-Tournament Team with their performances the previous weekend, when the trio led Fullerton to a perfect 3-0 weekend.

Fullerton closed out its seven-match road swing with a 4-3 mark and returns home to take part in the Titan Tournament this weekend. The Titans will host San Francisco at 7 p.m. Friday and Idaho at 2 p.m. Saturday to close out nonconference play.

Men’s soccer notches one in the win column

The Titans picked up their first victory of the season Sunday night against UNLV, with senior forward Samuel Goni scoring in the 85th minute to lead the team to a 1-0 victory.

The victory gives the team a 1-1-3 record after a 1-1 draw Friday night against Cal Baptist.

On Sunday, a late clutch goal by Goni on an assist from senior captain Ross McPhie means the Titans have scored in the last 20 minutes of action in four out of the past five contests.

Fullerton played a well-balanced game as they out-shot UNLV, 13 to eight, with seven of the Titans’ shots ending up on goal.

The Titans defense held tight all match, giving up just eight shots with only one of them allowed on net against goalkeeper Paul-Andre Guerin, who had another stellar night in goal for Fullerton.

In Friday’s game, the Titans tied the game in the 74th minute on a pass from Goni to Christian Pinzon, who buried his far-post shot for his first goal of the season.

The team looks to keep the momentum going as it travels south to the University of San Diego for a matchup at 7 p.m. Thursday night.

Women’s soccer picks up road victory at San Jose State

Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer earned a 2-0 win at San Jose State on Sept. 6 in the first of a four-game road swing. Thanks to an early goal from Atlanta Primus and a late goal from Dani Baldwin, the Titans secured a comfortable victory to move to 3-3-1.

The Titans controlled the game from the start as they predominantly controlled possession of the ball, out-shot the Spartans 16-9 (0-3-2) and won more corner kicks at 4-2. Despite the Spartans taking nine shots, only one forced redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Tianna Sanders into action, and she was up to the task. Her lone save of the match came in the first half as she and the Titan defense recorded a shutout for the second straight match.

For the second time in as many games, Primus got on the scoresheet. This time, the junior from London stepped up and drilled a penalty kick in the 19th minute to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.

Baldwin scored the dagger for the Titans in the 78th minute as she collected a pass from Delaney Dombek Lindahl and chipped the Spartan goalkeeper, who was way off her line.

The Titans continue their road swing with a match at Arizona at 7 p.m. Friday and a match at Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. Sunday.

—     Wendy Fawthrop

Cal State Fullerton Athletics contributed to this report.