Irvine, Calif. – No. 4 UCLA beat No. 2 UC Irvine, 3-1 (25-16, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17) at the Bren Events Center Saturday.
The Anteaters, who returned to the court after a 15 day lay-off, hit a season low .183 (42-21-115). UCI goes to 17-6 overall and 14-6 in the MPSF, while UCLA wins its fifth straight and improves to 17-9 on the year and 13-7 in the MPSF.
Junior outside hitter Connor Hughes led UCI with 12 kills, five digs and three block assists. Outside hitter Jeremy Dejno added nine kills, while Zack La Cavera had eight kills. Libero Michael Brinkley recorded a team best 15 digs and middle blockers Scott Kevorken and Collin Mehring each added five total blocks. Freshman Kyle Russell totaled a career-high five kills and four block assists and setter Daniel Stork had 34 set assists.
UCLA's Gonzalo Quiroga led all players with 21 kills. Dane Worley had 13 kills followed by Robart Page with 11 kills. Evan Mottram recorded 15 digs.
In the first set, the Bruins led 10-8 then scored five straight including two blocks to open a 15-8 advantage and went on to the 25-16 victory.
With the score tied 13-13, UCLA had four straight points to jump out to a 17-13 lead. The Bruins would win the set 25-16.
UCI would open the second set with a 5-1 lead on a pair of Connor Hughes kills plus a Colin Mehring kill and a Mehring and Hughes block. The Anteaters continued to lead 11-9 until the Bruins scored four in a row to take a 13-12 lead.
Another block by Mehring and Hughes followed by a kill by Mehring gave the Anteaters the lead back 14-13. A kill by Kyle Russell and a solo block by Scott Kevorken pushed the Anteater advantage to 18-15. Hughes' seventh kill of the set gave UCI the 25-19 win.
The Bruins jumped out to an 8-3 lead and closed out the match with a 25-17 victory. The Anteaters hit .000 in the final set (6-6-26).
UCI will host UC San Diego tomorrow (Mar. 31) at 4:00 p.m. at the Bren Center.
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