CSUN Upsets No. 10 Pepperdine, First Win in Malibu Since 2011

MALIBU, Calif. – Behind a balanced attack, which included a match-high 19 kills from Jalen Phillips, the 16th-ranked CSUN men’s volleyball team upset No. 10 Pepperdine, 3-1 in a non-conference match Saturday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.
 
In addition to snapping a 13-match skid to the Waves, CSUN picked up its first win in Malibu since 2011. At 9-2 on the season, the Matadors continue to match the 2010 CSUN team for the best start in 15 seasons.

Phillips led all hitters in the match with 19 kills, hitting .268 on 41 swings. One night after serving three aces against Doninican, Phillips served a season-high four aces against the Waves. Senior Lorenzo Bertozzi added nine kills (.278) and six digs, while freshman Stilian Delibosov chipped in eight kills and five blocks while hitting .615 on 13 errorless attacks. Fellow middle Joao Favarim matched his season-high with five kills (.364) along with three blocks.

The Matadors wound up hitting .257 (50-21-113) as a team while Pepperdine connected at a .276 (52-20-116) clip. Behind Phillips and a pair each from Bertozzi and Delibosov, CSUN posted a sizable 9-2 advantage in aces while also digging 34 balls to 31 for the Waves.

 

S1 l CSUN 25, PEPP 22 – An early kill by Phillips gave CSUN a 5-3 lead before the hosts rallied back behind an 8-3 run to take an 11-8 lead. After a Pepperdine hitting error trimmed the deficit to 12-10, the Waves outscored the Matadors 4-1 over the next five points to extend the lead to 16-11. CSUN still trailed by four (18-14) when a Pepperdine hitting error and three straight aces by Phillips pulled the Matadors even. The score remained tied at 19-19, 20-20, and 21-21 when a triple block by Bertozzi, Constable, and Favarim propelled CSUN on a set-clinching 4-1 run. 

 

S2 l CSUN 25, PEPP 20 – After hitting .280 in set one, the Matadors hit .440 in opening up a two-set lead. After CSUN forced a Pepperdine timeout at 13-10, the Matadors claimed four of the next six points to lead by as many as five at 17-12. The hosts would close to within three at 17-14 and again at 18-15 when Phillips connected for a pair of kills as CSUN opened a 21-15 advantage. The Waves would rally back to within three (23-20) late before a Delibosov kill and a Pepperdine hitting error sent the Matadors to the 25-20 win.

 

S3 l PEPP 25, CSUN 20 – Despite hitting just .088 in the third set, CSUN opened up five-point leads at 10-5, 11-6, and 15-10. The Waves would outscore the Matadors 8-2 out of the media timeout to force a CSUN timeout at 17-16. The Pepperdine run would extend to 8-0 as the hosts opened up a 21-17 while forcing another Matador timeout. Kills from Favarim and Phillips trimmed the deficit to 21-19, but Pepperdine would close the set on a 4-1 to seal the 25-20 win.

 

S4 l CSUN 25, PEPP 23 – The Waves overcame a trio of early three-point CSUN leads, the last at 8-5, by knotting the score at 8-8. A Phillips kill would put the Matadors back in front by three at 14-11, and CSUN still led by three at 18-15 following a solo block by Constable. An ensuing 3-1 run by the Waves forced a CSUN timeout at 19-18. A Pepperdine service error coming out of the timeout sent the Matadors on a 3-0 run that opened a 22-18 CSUN advantage. After the Waves answered with a 3-0 run to cut the lead to one, a Phillips kill and a CSUN triple block gave the Matadors match point at 24-21. The hosts would save two match points before a Delibosov kill delivered a CSUN 25-23 win.

 

HEAD COACH THEO EDWARDS SAID

“It was an exciting match. Anytime you can get a win on the road against a team of this quality is nice. Pepperdine did a fantastic job, and we were excited to come in here and play well. Stilian (Delibosov) had another fantastic performance, hit .615 and I felt like they had no answers for him. Joao (Favarim) was right there with him, played incredibly well, and had some timely kills down the stretch. This was truly a team win in many facets. I don’t think we do it without Donovan, Chris (Karnezis), Boaz (Serson), and Joao (Avila), lots of guys contributed.”

 

Head coach Theo Edwards shares his thoughts following No. 16 CSUN’s 3-1 upset win at 10th-ranked Pepperdine#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/ewoQXCzsJc

— CSUN Men’s Volleyball (@CSUNMensVB) February 9, 2025

 
UP NEXT
CSUN returns to Premier America Credit Union Arena next week to open up a season-long, six-match homestand against Jessup University next Friday (Feb. 14) at 6 p.m.
 
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