Box Score PROVO, Utah --- UC Irvine out-blocked BYU, 9-5, but it would not be enough as the Anteaters were held to a season-low .152 hitting percentage and suffered its first sweep of the season, falling 25-16, 25-18, 25-20 to BYU Thursday in Provo, Utah.
Arielle Manz and Marisa Bubica led UCI's (5-2) effort at the net with five block assists apiece with Shannon Fleming tacking on four. Aly Squires and freshman Cassidy Pickrell paced the team with nine kills apiece while Molly Yoder picked up nine digs. Shelley Anderson dished out 24 assists to go along with a pair of service aces.
BYU went on a 7-1 run to open the first set and maintained its pace by holding the Anteaters to just eight kills in the frame. Back-to-back kills by BYU's Alexa Gray widened the margin to 11 (17-6). UCI fought to close the deficit to eight several times with the last coming on a kill from Squires at 24-16 before Kathryn LeChaminant posted a kill to seal the set for the Cougars.
BYU continued its game plan, scoring five straight to open the second set before UCI would get on the scoreboard on a service error. Unforced errors hurt the Anteaters, who at one point trailed by 10 (18-8). However, UCI rallied and reeled off five points to make its way back into the match at 18-13, forcing a Cougar timeout. That would be as close as the Anteaters would come and Camry Godfrey connected with Gray on set point.
The Cougars looked to have the third set in hand, building an early 8-4 lead on an ace by Hannah Robison. However, the Anteaters used a four point run midway through the set to close the gap to one at 14-13 on a back-row kill from Squires and a soft roll-shot from Pickrell. Tambre Haddock's deep shot to the corner halted UCI's run and the Cougars re-opened its lead to four (19-15) with a pair of kills. UCI would not go away and strung together a second 4-0 rally to eventually tie the match at 20-20 on Anderson's service winner. However, that would be all for the Anteaters. A service error started a string of three straight miscues for UCI and Godfrey went to Gray on back-to-back plays to close out the match.
The Anteaters travel to Orem, Utah to compete in the Wolverine Classic Friday and Saturday.
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