Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DENVER, Colo. --- Aly Squires, Marisa Bubica and Shannon Fleming posted double-digit kills to lead UC Irvine to a 3-2 (23-25, 31-29, 25-16, 24-26, 15-10) victory over Air Force Saturday at the Pioneer Classic.

Squires led all players with 18 kills and posted a solid .311 clip, committing just four errors in 45 attempts. The All-Big West choice also posted her first double-double of the year with a team-high 20 digs. Bubica, an All-Big West Freshman team honoree in 2012, was a force at the net, recording a career-high eight block assists to go along with 15 kills and nine digs. Fleming and Arielle Manz also provided ample blocking as the duo each totaled six block assists as UCI out-blocked (15-8) the opponent for the second consecutive day. Fleming put away 10 kills in the win while Manz added five. Mackenzi Campbell led the team with 26 assists and freshman setter Shelley Anderson had her first career double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs.  

UCI (2-0) went on a tear in the first set, using a 6-1 one run to build a 10-5 lead. The Anteaters increased the lead to 19-10, its biggest margin as Fleming knocked down the assist from Campbell. However, UCI was unable to hold on to the nine-point advantage. The Falcons flew back into the frame with seven consecutive points to cut the Anteater lead to two at 19-17. A bad set by the Anteaters and a pair of kills by Maggie Sherrill tied the match at 22 points apiece. Ayesha Hein aced Bubica and Air Force went to Sherrill again for the winning kill.

Air Force jumped out to a 12-9 lead in the second set and managed to hold off UCI most of the way. However, a pair of tough serves by Bubica led to unforced Falcon errors, as the Anteaters tied the set at 22-22. Campbell found Cassidy Pickrell and Fleming on back-to-back plays to give UCI the 24-22 edge. Air Force tied the frame at 24 points apiece and the two teams would trade points. At 29-29, Fleming and Bubica blocked Akokwe Clement and Bubica answered on the assist from Squires to even the match.

It was all UCI in the third as the Anteaters established a 16-10 lead on a service winner from Squires. Hitting .318 and holding the Falcons to a -.120 hitting percentage, the Anteaters opened their lead to nine at 23-14, following a kill from Allison Lee and a solo stuff from Squires. Campbell turned to Fleming for the kill as the Anteaters took a 2-1 set lead.

Neither team was able to claim a comfortable lead in the fourth frame. Air Force managed to hold a two-point lead five times before the Anteaters took the 16-15 edge on an ace from Anderson. Air Force tied the set but the tide turned in UCI's favor as the Anteaters scored five unanswered points to lead 21-16. The see-saw battle continued as the Falcons chipped at the margin to close the gap to three at 23-20 on a kill from Cami Richan. Pickrell responded with a kill (24-20) and UCI looked to have the match in hand but Air Force scored the final six points to wrestle away a 26-24 decision and force a fifth set.

Air Force was unable to capitalize on its momentum as UCI used a .300 hitting percentage to storm out to leads of 5-1 and 10-4, prompting the Falcons to use both timeouts. Hein's attack error increased UCI's lead to seven at 11-4 and the Anteaters would not look back. Air Force came as close as four points but Campbell turned to Fleming again on match point for the win.

The Anteaters will vie for the Pioneer Classic title against host Denver tonight at 6:30 p.m.

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