Irvine, Calif. – No. 5 USC rallied in the fifth set to beat No. 3 UC Irvine (28-30, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 15-13) in front of 1,395 fans at the Bren Events Center Friday.

UCI snaps its six-match winning streak and goes to 6-2 on the year and 2-1 in the MPSF. The Trojans came back after trailing 7-2 in the final set to remain undefeated at 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the MPSF.

UCI opposite Zack La Cavera led the team with a career and match-high 21 kills. Outside hitter Tamir Hershko recorded 17 kills and seven digs and middle blocker Jason Agopian totaled 10 kills and four total blocks. Outside hitter Kyle Russell fired a career-high five aces and a season-best 11 digs, while middle blocker Andrew Benz added six kills and five total blocks. Setter Michael Saeta posted 47 set assists, two aces, seven digs and four total blocks. Libero Michael Brinkley tied his season-high with 12 digs.

Josh Kirchner led the Trojans with 15 kills followed by Christopher Orenic with 14 kills and 10 digs and Robert Feathers with 12 kills and six total blocks. Micah Christenson recorded 52 set assists, five block assists and a match-high 15 digs.

UCI out-dug (49-45) and out-served (7-5) USC, but the Trojans out-hit the Anteaters .305-.261. Each team had 12 blocks. UCI was plagued by 22 service errors.

With USC leading 18-16 in the first set, the Anteaters responded on two Zack La Cavera kills to knot the score at 20-20. USC would hold set point 24-22, but the Anteaters would force extra points on a kill by Andrew Benz and a block by Benz and Michael Saeta, 24-24. A pair of Tamir Hershko kills gave UCI the 30-28 victory.

The Trojans jumped out to a quick 6-2 start and never trailed taking the second set 25-17. UCI was its own worst enemy hitting .120, while the Trojans hit .524.

In the third set, roles were reversed as UCI opened with an 11-5 lead with the help of two kills each by La Cavera, Kyle Russell and Jason Agaopian. The Trojans made it interesting going on a 5-2 run pulling within 23-20, but following a UCI timeout, USC would have two service errors to end the set 25-21. UCI hit .462 (13-1-26).

A 4-0 run by USC (17-13) was the separation the Trojans needed to go on to a 25-23 victory in the fourth set and force a game five. The Anteaters came as close as 24-23 on two consecutive USC errors, but a UCI service error ended the set.

Two Zack La Cavera kills, an USC attack error, an Agopian kill on an overpass and a solo block by Russell gave UCI a commanding 7-2 lead in the final set. The Trojans would rally, scoring four straight, but a service error stopped the momentum as the teams switched sides with UCI leading 8-6. A USC service ace and three straight UCI attack errors gave USC its first lead of the set, 12-10. UCI would draw even at 13-13 on a Benz kill and a Trojan attack error, but the Anteaters ended the match with consecutive hitting errors to lose 15-13.

UCI is back in action tomorrow traveling to Cal Baptist for a 7:00 p.m. match in Riverside. The Anteaters will host Princeton in a non-conference match Monday (Jan. 26) at the Bren Events Center beginning at 7:00 p.m.

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