Rob Lothman (left) had 29 assists and two kills against Northrdige (Gil Talbot).

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The Harvard men's volleyball team started its three-match California trip with a 3-0 loss to Cal. St. Northridge Saturday night. The Crimson drops to 8-6 this season.

The Matadors opened the match with a 25-16 first-set victory behind a 53.8 percent attack rate. Harvard attacked at a 28 percent clip, but its 10 kills were outdone by the Matadors 16.

Over the course of the last two sets, the attack percentages evened out, but the scores still favored Northridge. Harvard would register more kills in each of the final two sets, (13-11, 14-10) but the Matadors took those sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-17.

Harvard's Matt Jones finished with a match-high 14 kills to go with two service aces and two block assists. Drew Staker paced the Matadors with 10 kills.

The Crimson will be back on the courts Tuesday, when they take on No. 11 Pepperdine.