Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TUCSON, Ariz. --- Marisa Bubica recorded a career-high 20 kills to lead UC Irvine to a 23-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-16 win over American Friday at the Arizona Desert Classic.

Bubica also had five digs and three blocks as the Anteaters climbed to 5-7 on the season. Aly Squires hit .351, putting away 17 of 37 attempts with four errors and led the team with three aces while picking up six digs. Sydney Wright tacked on 12 kills and shared the team-high with Shannon Fleming as the pair posted five block assists each. Kristin Winkler led all players with 18 digs while Marissa Alvarez just missed a double-double with 50 assists and nine digs.

In the first set, Aly Squires sparked a UCI rally with a pair of aces and a kill to give the Anteaters a 12-8 lead. American responded with six consecutive points to catch UCI at 15-15 and then took a two-point lead at 22-20 on a pair of unforced Anteater errors. Bree Scarbrough's kill opened a three-point edge and it was Scarbrough again on set point with the kill to take the first set from UCI.

 The momentum continued in American University's favor in the second frame as three unforced errors by UCI were followed by back-to-back blocks by American for a 10-4 lead. However, UCI responded by going on a nine point run to claim the 13-10 edge. The Anteaters followed with a six-point rally to put the set out of reach and an attack error by Scarbrough tied the match at a set apiece.

Bubica blasted four kills in five plays as UCI surged to a 10-4 lead in the second set. Squires highlighted a second four-point run with a pair of kills to give the Anteaters a comfortable 19-9 lead. American closed the gap to six points at 22-16 but a solo block by Ella Rosenfeld was sandwiched by kills from Bubica, giving the Anteaters a 2-1 set lead.

A five-point run in the final set saw UCI jump out to a commanding 10-3 advantage and the Anteaters never looked back. Squires and Rosenfeld teamed up to stuff Sara Rishell and American committed an unforced error for a 12-point UCI lead (24-12) before Squires would connect with Alvarez to put away the match-clinching kill.

 

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