IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine was in the drivers' seat of the UC Irvine Tournament with a 2-0 record but Fresno State won the final three sets in a 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24) decision to defeat the Anteaters Saturday at the Bren Events Center.

UCI (9-5), Fresno State (6-6) and American University each finished with 2-1 records and the title was decided by sets with the Bulldogs posting an 8-4 set record to claim the championship. UCI finished at 7-6 while American was 7-7.

Aly Squires and Shelley Anderson were named to the all-tournament team for the Anteaters while Krystina Lindskova (AU), Julianna Crum (AU), Marissa Brand (FS) and Aubrey Smith (XU) were also voted to the all-tournament team. Holly Franks (FS) was voted Most Valuable Player.

Marisa Bubica tied for the match-high with 18 kills to lead UCI while Squires totaled 14 kills and 19 digs. Allison Lee also hit double-digits with 13 kills and 17 digs while Arden Davis scooped up 23 digs. Shelley Anderson had 48 assists and eight digs in the effort. UCI topped Fresno State in blocks 11-9 but were out-dug 96-85.

The Anteaters and Bulldogs squared off in the first set and the Anteater block made its presence known as Arielle Manz and Bubica stopped Zana Bowens at the net to give UCI a 6-2 lead. The Bulldogs handled the deficit and quickly caught UCI at 8-8 on Christina Lee's service ace. Following the service ace, neither team would lead by more than two the rest of the way. Fresno State took a 22-21 lead as Manz's tip went wide but the middle blocker knocked an off-speed roller off the hands of the Bulldogs to knot the score 22-22. Maci Murdock put away the ball on the over-pass by UCI but Bubica responded with a cross-court kill to tie the set at 24-24. It was Bubica on the next two plays to deliver for the Anteaters, who won the set 26-24.

Fresno State took control early in the second, taking a 9-5 lead and would extend the advantage to five at 11-6 on a kill down the middle by Bowens. UCI trimmed the lead to three (12-9) as Allison Lee punched the ball through the Bulldog block. Fleming then aced Bowens to bring UCI to within two (16-14) and a tough serve by Squires led to a Manz kill to tie the score at 19-19. Fresno State edged ahead again at 21-19 and a back-row kill by Bowens would give FSU set point at 24-21. Fleming held off the Bulldogs with a kill on the slide and then teamed up with Anderson to block Brand to close the gap to one. However, Christina Lee won a joust at the net against Fleming to even the match at a set apiece.

UCI took a 5-2 lead in the third but at 7-6, the rallying Bulldogs went on a three-point run to lead 9-7. The Anteaters battled pull ahead 18-16 on consecutive kills from Bubica and Fleming but FSU knotted the score again at 18-18. The Bulldogs used their second timeout following a pair of kills from Squires that gave UCI a 22-20 lead. A one-handed set by Anderson found Manz for the soft tip as the Anteaters reached set point (24-23). However Fresno State answered with a kill from Bowens and an attempt by Squires flew long as the Bulldogs moved in front, 25-24, and Franks would ace Davis to steal a 2-1 set lead.  

The Bulldogs were the first to pull away in the final frame as a a kill from Franks and an error by Allison Lee would give FS a 13-10 advantage. However, following a service error by Molly Pearson, Allison Lee and Fleming stuffed Franks, and Anderson found Bubica to tie the score (13-13). UCI won the race to 20 as Squires dropped a roll shot over the Bulldog block (20-19) but Brand responded by knocking the ball off the Anteater block to tie the score. Fresno State reached match point at 24-22 but the Anteaters would not go away as Allison Lee dropped a soft roller to tie the score at 24-24. Bowens took care of the assist from Maggie Eppright on the ensuing play and Christina Lee and Murdock denied Allison Lee to close out the match.

The UCI Tournament concludes the non-conference slate for the Anteaters, who open Big West action at Cal Poly, Sept. 27.

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