Kristin Winkler Sets UCI Single-Match Dig Mark; Anteaters Lose to Pacfic
November 03, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
STOCKTON, Calif. --- Senior libero Kristin Winkler broke a UC Irvine single-match record with 36 digs against Pacific in Stockton but the Anteaters suffered their fourth, five-set loss of the season, losing 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12 to the Tigers Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
Winkler, who rewrote the record earlier this year with a 35-dig effort against Arizona State on Aug. 31, has accumulated 2,115 digs in her four year career and needs 80 digs to become the all-time Big West leader with six matches left to play. Marisa Bubica and Aly Squires each totaled 15 kills apiece with Squires logging a season-high 22 digs for a double-double. Marissa Alvarez had a career-high 17 digs to go along with 59 assists, two aces and a season-best 17 digs. Taylor Smith was the third Anteater to top a personal-best effort with 14 kills.
The first set was a see-saw battle that saw 20 ties. Pacific opened up the first two-point lead of the match at 3-1 and then again at 20-18 on back-to-back errors by UCI. However, the Anteaters followed a service error by Mia Feiner with a kill from Squires to tie the score at 20-20. At 23-23, the Anteaters turned to Bubica on consecutive plays to take a one-set lead.
UCI struck earlier in the second frame, pulling away from a 7-7 tie to lead 11-7 on a service ace from Alvarez. The Tigers clawed back into the set, catching UCI at 16-16 and then took a slim 20-18 edge on a kill by Anne-Sophie Bauer. Pacific held off UCI, extending the lead to three at 24-21 on a put-away from Jennifer Sanders, but a pair of unforced errors brought the Anteaters to within one before Sanders would tie the match with a kill.
The third frame saw seven tie scores but no lead changes as the Anteaters managed to hold off the Tigers. UCI opened a 15-13 edge on the block by Alvarez and Shannon Fleming. Alvarez found Bubica for a kill to give UCI a 20-17 lead but Pacific would cut the lead to one at 23-22 as Gillian Howard and Bauer paired up to deny Smith. Fleming delivered a kill on the slide for set point and Squires knocked down the ball from Alvarez take the set.
It was all Pacific in set No. 4 as the Tigers jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, using a .283 hitting percentage. The Anteaters were held to a .102 clip and never threatened as Pacific forced a fifth set on a kill by Howard.
The Tigers took the early advantage, building a 7-4 lead on a solo block by Gabby Cowden. Pacific looked to be in control at 10-5 but UCI battled, climbing back into the set at 12-11 as Fleming and Squires stopped Kat Schulz at the net. However, Pacific responded with a key block on Fleming to give the Tigers match point and Sanders put down the final ball to capture the win.
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