Muncie, IN – No. 1 UC Irvine swept Ball State, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-17) Saturday to close out a three match road swing to the Midwest.

The top-ranked Anteaters improve to 3-1 overall, while Ball State opens the year with a loss (0-1).

Junior opposite Zack La Cavera led all players with 18 kills, two aces, seven digs and four total blocks. Senior outside hitter Jeremy Dejno totaled 10 kills and three block assists, while middle blocker Collin Mehring had a team-high five total blocks. Senior middle blocker Scott Kevorken added three kills, four blocks and an ace. Libero Michael Brinkley tallied seven digs and setter Roberto Frazzoni had a career-best 25 set assists, six digs and four blocks.

Ball State hit a dismal 0.48 (26-22-83) for the match and was led by Kevin Owens with eight kills. Brendan Surane had six kills and Matt leske totaled four kills and a team-best five total blocks. Graham McIlvaine recorded 23 set assists.

UCI opened the match with three straight attack errors, but were able to catch the Cardinals then take their first lead of the game, 14-13, on an ace by Roberto Frazzoni. With the score knotted at 15-15, UCI used a kill by Collin Mehring and a Ball State error to open a 17-15 advantage.  UCI won the set, 25-21 despite hitting .036 (11-10-28). BSU wasn't much better hitting at a .071 (9-7-28) clip.

It was UCI's turn to start the set with a 3-0 lead on a pair of blocks by Collin Mehring and a kill by Dejno. Opposite Zack La Cavera had five consecutive kills, the last three in a 7-1 run that gave the Anteaters a 19-10 lead. UCI would win the set 25-16 behind the strength of eight La Cavera kills.

Four consecutive Ball State miscues helped UCI start the third set with a 4-1 lead. The Anteaters would stretch the lead to 7-2 on a La Cavera ace and block by Frazzoni and Scott Kevorken. Ball State would score four straight points before a kill by La Cavera ended the set, 25-17 and the match 3-0.

The Anteaters begin Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action traveling to No. 6 Pepperdine Friday (Jan. 10) at 7:00 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse.