Irvine, Calif. – Ninth-ranked UC Irvine held off No. 5 USC, 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 24-26, 15-13) at the Bren Center Thursday.

UCI sophomore Kyle Russell stepped to the service line with the Anteaters trailing 13-11 in the fifth set and fired two aces to tie the score at 13-13. Consecutive kills by Jeremy Dejno and Collin Mehring gave the Anteaters the 15-13 victory.

UCI improved to 8-7 overall and 5-6 in the MPSF, while USC goes to 6-5 on the year and 5-5 in the MPSF.

Opposite Zack La Cavera led UCI with 17 kills followed by Jeremy Dejno with 16 kills and a career-tying 10 digs. Outside hitter Connor Hughes added 11 kills and career-best 13 digs. Setter Roberto Frazzoni totaled 48 set assists and a career-high 13 digs, while libero Michael Brinkley had 11 digs. Middle blocker Collin Mehring had a team-high six blocks to go with eight kills.

USC had double-digit kills from Lucas Yoder (16), Andy Benesh (11) and Tanner Jensen (10). Libero Henry Cassiday had a match-high 18 digs, while setter Michael Mullahey totaled 48 set assists and 12 digs.

UCI started the first set with a 7-4 advantage before USC scored four in a row to go in front 8-7. A serve ace by Jeremy Dejno tied the set at 16-16, but two Trojan points followed to give USC the edge they would need to win the set 25-22.

Two UCI blocks plus a kill by Dejno and an ace by Scott Kevorken pushed the Anteater lead to 14-10 in the second set. UCI won 25-17 on a Collin Mehring kill. Zack La Cavera had five kills in the set.

UCI would once again start with an early 7-4 advantage, but unlike the opening set would control the rest of the game. A kill by La Cavera followed by two Trojans errors gave the Anteaters set point. After a USC kill, Dejno would put the ball away for the 25-17 victory.

In the fourth set, USC trailed 20-13 before it mounted a comeback out-scoring UCI 13-4 to win the set 26-24. UCI held match point, 24-21, only to watch the Trojans record five consecutive kills to force a fifth set.

In the final game, USC rallied from a 6-4 deficit to take a 10-7 lead. A kill by Dejno pulled UCI within 13-11 before Russell's heroics ensued.

UCI will entertain No. 3 Pepperdine tomorrow (Feb. 14) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

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