IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine (10-15, 5-6) was unable to hold off No. 9 Hawaii (19-2, 12-0), losing a five-set thriller, 25-21, 22-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-10 Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of 754 at Crawford Court. It was the first time UCI had pushed Hawai'i to five sets since 1992 and only the second time in 25 tries against the Rainbows, who remain undefeated in Big West action.

Marisa Bubica led UCI with a career-high 21 kills while Aly Squires registered a double-double with 14 kills and 18 digs. Marissa Alvarez handed out 45 assists to go along with two ace and eight digs and Kristin Winkler led all players with 28 digs. Winkler also tied a career-high with four aces for the second straight night to lead the Anteaters to an 8-5 edge in service winners. UCI bested the 'Bows at the net, 11.5-9, with Ella Rosenfeld recording a match-high seven block assists. Shannon Fleming reached double-digits in kills with 12 and hit .375 for the match to go along with five digs and four blocks.

UCI took the early lead in the first set at 10-6 as Rosenfeld and Taylor Smith sent back an attempt by Ashley Kastl to force a Hawai'i timeout. UH chipped at the lead, catching UCI at 13-13 as Jade Vorster dropped the ball over the block for a kill. At 15-15, the 'Bows scored six straight points with Kaela Goodman and Kalei Adolpho delivering a pair of key blocks in the run. UCI came as close as three points at 23-20 but Vorster dropped an identical shot over the block to give UH set point and Emily Hartong drove a ball down the line for the winning point.

The Anteaters claimed an early lead again in set No. 2 but Hawai'i eventually cut a three-point deficit to one at 15-14 on an unforced UCI error. However Smith and Rosenfeld delivered a key block on Hartong to open UCI's lead to three at 17-14. UH pulled to within a point at 19-18 and again at 20-19 but Fleming bookended a three-point UCI run with a kill and a service ace as the Anteaters opened a 23-19 advantage. Bubica and Rosenfeld paired up to send back an attempt by Hartong and Bubica tied the match with a cross-court blast.

UH built a 10-6 lead in the third frame but the Anteaters battled and used a five-point rally to turn a four-point deficit into a 14-13 lead as Winkler aced Kastl to cap the run. The two teams traded points but at 16-16, Bubica delivered three kills to highlight a four-point run as UCI took a 20-16 lead. Bubica then put away an off-speed roller as UCI reached set point and Alvarez went to Squires, who slammed a cross-court kill to give the Anteaters a 2-1 set lead.

The Rainbows were the first to pull away in set four as Mita Uiato served for four points, giving UH a 12-9 lead. UCI sliced the lead to two at 16-14 on another Winkler ace but a kill by Goodman was followed by an attack error by Fleming for a two-point switch (18-14). The Anteaters continued to answer UH's offense and closed the gap to one at 19-18 behind a kill and solo stuff from Fleming. However, Hawai'i scored three consecutive points to reclaim a four-point edge (22-18) and Hartong forced a fifth set by banging a ball off the Anteater block and then firing an ace.

The momentum continued for the Rainbow Wahine, who jumped out to a 6-2 lead on back-to-back kills by Goodman. However, UCI stormed back into the set with three consecutive points to come to within one at 6-5. UH answered behind Hartong, who fired a pair of back-row kills and then posted her second service ace to give the team a 9-5 lead. UCI would not go away. Bubica slammed a ball through the UH block and the Anteater block denied first Tai Manu-Olevau and then Hartong to trim the gap again at 10-9. Goodman hit a cross-court shot to stop the Anteater rally and UH then reeled off three unanswered points to take a 14-9 lead. Stephanie Hagins knocked down the ball for UH to close out the match.

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