UC Irvine
Fresno State
UCI Battles From Behind To Take Down Xavier
September 20, 2013 | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine (9-4) recorded a season-high 17 team blocks to erase a two-set deficit and defeat Xavier 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 18-16 Friday evening at the UC Irvine Tournament.
Arielle Manz posted a career-best eight total blocks to lead the team while Shannon Fleming and Marisa Bubica each recorded seven block assists. The defensive effort was also led in the back-court by Arden Davis, who scooped up a career-high 32 kills as she tied for sixth in the UCI single-match records. Shelley Anderson handed out 50 assists and picked up a personal-high 18 digs for her third double-double match of the year. Aly Squires paced the offensive effort with a match-leading 20 kills while Bubica knocked down 15 and fired three aces. Allison Lee also reached double-figure kills with 13 and had three winners from the baseline.
Xavier (7-5), picked to finish third in the Big East, trailed early in the first as back-to-back UCI kills were followed by consecutive aces from Fleming for a 9-6 Anteater lead. The Musketeer block of Abbey Bessler and Alex Blair gave Xavier a two-point lead at 13-11 but UCI tied the score (17-17) on a kill from Lee. Xavier responded by scoring four unanswered points (21-17) and the Anteaters, who did not record a block in the first frame would lose the set on an attack error by Manz.
The Anteaters struggled in the second, managing just a .154 clip. Xavier surged out to a 16-11 advantage as a triple block by Xavier stopped a Fleming attempt. Trailing Xavier, 18-16, Manz delivered a resounding solo block on Blair that sparked a 6-1 run that culminated in a block from Manz and Bubica (22-19). The Musketeers slashed back with their own five-point rally to lead 24-22 and won the set on a service error by Squires.
UCI stormed out to a 10-5 lead in the third and never looked back. Lee served for five Anteater points, including acing Sarah Brown and Fleming followed by serving for three straight points. The Musketeers were unable to mount a run and UCI posted a 7-0 block advantage in the set and Squires put away a cross-court kill for the set winner.
The momentum in the third carried UCI to a 17-12 lead in the fourth. Xavier pushed back with a pair of points but halted its own rally on a service error from Bessler. A drop-shot from Manz, followed by a block with Bubica staked UCI to a six-point lead (22-16). Lee joined the block party with a solo stuff on Alex Smith on the next play and Bubica and Fleming tied the match by denying Bessler on set point.
The two teams were evenly matched in the deciding set. Squires hit the endline to force the side change at 8-7 and Anderson aced Metzger to give UCI a two-point lead (9-7). Xavier rallied to tie the score at 12-12 on a kill from Bessler, prompting UCI to use its first timeout. Lee hit a deep shot out of the huddle and the battle continued. Xavier claimed a 14-13 edge as an attempt by Squires sailed long but a tough serve from Anderson led to a Bubica kill (16-15). Anderson went to Bubica again (17-16) and Manz would pair up with Lee to stop Makayla Agin for the winning point.
UCI closes out the tournament against Fresno State Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
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