Box Score BOISE, Idaho --- UC Irvine was unable to bounce back from a two-set deficit, falling to Boise State, 25-16, 25-23, 25-27, 25-21 to conclude action at the Boise State Invitational.
Aly Squires was voted to the all-tournament team after leading the Anteaters today with a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs. All-tournament honoree, Kristin Winkler, led UCI with 19 digs. Ella Rosenfeld recorded a career-high eight block assists and was errorless on the day, putting away seven kills in 12 attempts to hit .583. Marisa Bubica put together another all-around performance, knocking down 10 kills and picking up 10 digs while posting two block assists and a team-high three aces.
UCI was unable to get going in the first frame, hitting just .088 while the Broncos blasted a .419 hitting percentage. The set was close early on at 8-6 but the Broncos pulled away with an 11-3 run to take a 19-9 advantage. The Anteaters never threatened and BSU closed out the set on a kill from Alyssa Gammel.
The Anteaters bounced back in the second frame with a .283 hitting clip and took a five-point lead at 13-8 on a kill from Squires. UCI looked to be in control with an 18-13 lead but the Broncos came out with a 9-1 run to take a 22-19 advantage with five straight kills coming from Fiona Jones. The Anteaters closed the gap to one on a service ace by Bubica and then again at 24-23 on the put-away from Squires but BSU went to Gammel again on set point for the win.
Neither team could gain control in the third frame as the two teams traded points for most of the set. With UCI leading 21-20, a Bronco miscue was followed by back-to-back kills from Squires and Bubica for the 24-20 edge. Gammel delivered a pair of kills and paired up with Brittany Reardon for the block in Boise State's four-point rally, tying the score at 24-24. However at 25-25, Marissa Alvarez went to Squires on consecutive plays as the Anteaters captured the win and forced a fourth set.
The fourth frame mirrored the third as neither team was able to establish a comfortable lead early on. At 14-14, Boise State would be the first team to pull away, out-scoring UCI 6-2, to lead 20-16. UCI answered with a 3-1 run to whittle the margin to two points at 21-19 on a kill from Sydney Wright, but tournament MVP Liz Harden and Leah Stevens sent back an attempt by Squires and Harden put away the final kill to end the match.
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