Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine suffered its fifth consecutive loss, losing to Cal State Fullerton, 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21) Saturday in Big West action at Crawford Court.
Aly Squires paced the team with a double-double, knocking down 15 kills while scooping up 14 digs to go along with four block assists. Taylor Smith chipped in 13 kills while Shannon Fleming led the effort at the net with eight block assists. Kristin Winkler topped the team with 25 digs and Marissa Alvarez dealt out 33 assists in the effort.
Cal State Fullerton eased away from a 10-10 tie with a 5-1 run to take 15-11 advantage on the kill by Bre Moreland. The Titans extended the lead to five at 20-15 on a blocking error by UCI but the Anteaters used a three-point run to get back into the set at 21-18 on an unforced error by Kayla Neto. However, Julie Consani connected with Lauren Kissell for set point and Moreland put away one of her team-high 19 kills to take the first set.
The Titans rode a .385 hitting percentage in the second set and jumped out to a 10-5 advantage. The Anteaters, held to a .100 clip, never threatened and found themselves trailing 2-0 in sets following a kill by Consani.
UCI battled out of the break and took a 12-8 lead in the third frame on the ace by Alvarez. The lead widened to five at 17-12 as Alvarez connected with Bubica for a cross-court shot but the Titans used a five-point run to catch UCI at 20-20. At 21-21 Arielle Manz delivered a key kill on the quick set to spark a three-point UCI run as the Anteaters claimed a 24-21 lead. Smith capped the set, putting away a shot down the line as UCI captured the third frame.
A four-point run by the Titans in the fourth set put UCI behind at 16-12. CSF held off the Anteaters, who came to within two points at 23-21 on a kill by Fleming but Neto's kill would give the Titans match point and Neto then paired up with Leah Best for the block at the net to seal the win.
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