Anteaters Back In Win Column With Sweep Of Fresno State
November 13, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. --- UC Irvine snapped a five-match losing streak in decisive fashion, sweeping Fresno State, 25-21, 25-23, 26-24 Tuesday in Fresno.
Aly Squires led the Anteaters with a double-double, knocking down 15 kills while picking up 17 digs to go along with four block assists. Taylor Smith and Shannon Fleming each chipped in 10 kills apiece with Smith committing just one error in 20 attempts to hit .450 in the match. Kristin Winkler led the team with 21 digs and now needs just nine to become the Big West's all-time career leader. Mackenzi Campbell started at the setter's position and posted her first double-double of 37 assists and 10 digs in the win. Molly Yoder reached double-figures in digs with 12 as UCI edged Fresno State 79-72 in the dig category.
The Bulldogs took the early lead at 10-8 in the first set on an ace by Barbara Alcantara but UCI used a three-point rally to lead 17-14 on three consecutive Anteater kills. FSU caught UCI at 18-18 but a service error by the Bulldogs followed by a kill from Campbell put the Anteaters ahead 21-19. A put-away by Smith extended UCI's lead to three at 23-20 and back-to-back unforced errors by the Bulldogs would end the set in favor of UCI.
UCI cruised out to a 15-11 lead in the second set as Campbell and Shannon Fleming paired up to deny Korrin Wild at the net. Fresno State cut the lead to two but would come no closer and Campbell found Squires for consecutive UCI kills to give the Anteaters a two-set lead.
The duo of Smith and Squires delivered on back-to-back plays as the Anteaters built a 12-9 lead in the final frame. The Bulldogs knotted the score at 13-13 on an unforced error by the Anteaters but following a service error by Marissa Brand, Fleming fired a service winner as UCI reclaimed the lead at 15-13. Marisa Bubica connected with Campbell to extend the Anteater lead to three at 18-15 and UCI worked that lead further to four points at 23-19. However, Fresno State reeled off four straight to tie the set at 23 points apiece. Wild would tie the match once more for the Bulldogs at 24-24 but Maci Murdock's service error gave UCI match point and Ella Rosenfeld knocked down the game-winning kill to complete the sweep.
UCI resumes Big West action Saturday against Long Beach State at the Pyramid.
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