The Hawaii men’s volleyball team fell victim to a classic trap game.

With marquee home meetings against top-ranked Long Beach State looming next week, the No. 5 Rainbow Warriors were tasked with getting past No. 9 Cal State Northridge in the first of two matches at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, Calif., this weekend.

Perhaps looking ahead, UH stumbled spectacularly as the Matadors hit .507, a season high for a UH opponent, in a 25-17, 25-20, 25-20 loss on Friday night.

UH (21-3, 4-1 Big West) was flat throughout in absorbing its first conference loss and sweep defeat of the season, while CSUN (16-7, 1-4) picked up its first Big West win after four setbacks against LBSU and UC Santa Barbara.

Opposite Kristian Titriyski put down a team-high 14 kills in the loss as his team’s only pin hitter to get established. UH hit .219, including .045 in a lopsided Set 1.

Justin Todd had the lone ace of the night for the ‘Bows as they finished with a season low in a usual strength.

CSUN outblocked UH 9.5-3. Jalen Phillips had a match-high 16 kills on .414 hitting and Joao Availa added 10 on .692 efficiency.

The teams rematch at 4 p.m. Hawaii time Saturday.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.