Santa Barbara, Calif. – After wnning the first two sets, UC Irvine held on to beat UC Santa Barbara, 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 17-15) at Rob Gym Saturday.

UCI picks up its first five-set win of the year (1-3) and goes to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the MPSF. UCSB loses its second straight match and is 3-2 on the year and 2-2 in the MPSF. The teams are tied at No. 8 in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll.

Opposite Zack La Cavera led UCI with 16 kills and a career-high six aces. Freshman Tamir Hersko added 10 kills, while outside hitters Connor Hughes and Kyle Russell each had eight kills, which is a season-best best for Russell. Freshman setter Michael Saeta had a career-high 53 set assists, a team-high 10 digs and four block assists. Middle blocker Scott Kevorken posted a season and team-high seven total blocks to go with five kills and middle blocker Collin Mehring had six kills and six total blocks.

UCSB was led by Austin Kingi with a match-high 17 kills. Evan Licht and Matt Hanley both recorded nine kills in the loss.

UCI went on a 7-1 run which included two kills and two aces by Zack La Cavera to open a 10-5 lead in the first set. The Anteaters would go on to win, 25-21.

UCI trailed 13-9 in the second set before a pair of Collin Mehring kills was followed by two La Cavera aces to knot the score at 13-13. A kill by La Cavera and a Gaucho attack error put the Anteaters ahead 15-13.  UCSB would out-score UCI 6-1 to jump to a 20-18 advantage.  The Anteaters would score three of the next four, the last a Travis Woloson ace to tie the set at 21 all. UCI would win the set on another La Cavera ace, 25-23.

The Gauchos would force a fifth game after winning 25-16 in the third and 25-22 in the fourth set.

In the final set, UCI held a 12-10 lead before UCSB scored four straight and had match point 14-12. Two consecutive Gaucho errors gave UCI life, 14-14. After a UCSB kill, La Cavera had two kills and Scott Kevorken and Connor Hughes sealed the win with a block, 17-15.

UCI will travel to No. 3 UCLA Monday (Jan. 27) for a 7:00 p.m. match at Pauley Pavilion.