UC Irvine Keeps To The Road, Travels To CS Fullerton, UC Riverside

  • The Anteaters will make a pair of local trips this week to take on the Titans Friday (Oct. 23) and UC Riverside Saturday (Oct. 24).
  • The two contests cap a three-match road swing for UCI, which looks to improve on its 8-11 overall record.
  • UCI is currently sixth in the conference at 2-5.


ANTEATER BLOCK JUMPS TO THIRD IN BIG WEST

  • After going toe-to-toe with Hawai'i at the net, the Anteater block climbed from sixth to third in the conference with a 2.09 average.
  • The team had been held to single digit blocks against Cal Poly and UC Riverside but found its footing against the Rainbow Wahine, registering 17 team blocks.
  • UCI had 26 block assists and four solo stuffs in the four-set effort.
  • The Anteaters left the net untouched and have logged zero blocking errors in five of the last six matches.


AKPAKPA TIES CAREER-HIGH

  • Idara Akpakpa had a solid match and tied a career-high with seven block assists for the third time this year.
  • The freshman also had a solo block against Hawai'i to go along with eight kills.
  • Akpakpa is second with 62 blocks on the year and a .86 average.
  • She has chipped in 80 kills and is averaging 1.11.


BLAIR BLOCKS CAREER-HIGH

  • Emily Blair started in the second set for the Anteaters and showed her talent at the net with a career-high five block assists.
  • Blair's previous best was two block assists against UC Davis.
  • The setter also dished out 33 assists while picking up eight digs, her second-highest total this year and recorded two kills, including one that was bumped over and dropped in the middle of the Wahine side.


BUBICA MAKES NOISE AT BLOCK PARTY

  • Marisa Bubica had a season-best five blocks for the Anteaters.
  • The outside hitter, who has seen action in just seven matches this year, recorded three block assists and a pair of solo blocks.
  • She had a team-leading 14 kills to reach double-digits for the third time this year.


HAKIM  BESTS PERSONAL MARK

  • The Anteater back-row edged Hawai'i in digs, 63-61.
  • Chloe Hakim led the team with a career-best 16 digs, two better than her previous mark of 14 against Oregon State.
  • Hakim has recorded double-figure digs in four matches this year.
  • She is averaging 2.37 digs per set.


ROSENFELD HOLDS STEADY AT THIRD IN CONFERENCE

  • Ella Rosenfeld remains at No. 3 in the Big West with a .353 hitting percentage.
  • The senior was held to a below-.300 clip for the first time in five matches after hitting .250 against the Wahine.
  • She added six block assists last week and leads the team with 64 total blocks and a .89 per-set average.
  • Rosenfeld is third on the team with 152 kills and a 2.11 average.
  • She is 83rd in the nation in hitting percentage.


SERVICE LINE STYMIES ANTEATERS

  • After limiting their service errors to single-figures in the three straight matches, UCI had that streak snapped against Hawai'i.
  • The Anteaters tied a season-low 14 miscues from the end line.
  • UCI will look to reverse the trend this week as the team also posted 14 service errors in its first meeting against Cal State Fullerton.


REMEMBER THE TITANS

  • Cal State Fullerton will be looking for its first win this week.
  • The Titans (0-18, 0-6) pushed UCI to five sets in September and is led by Kyra Hill, who has 135 kills and is averaging 2.37 per set.
  • CSF is seventh in the Big West in blocking at 1.71.
  • UCI is 46-28 all-time against the Titans and has now won five straight against CSF.


ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS

  • UC Riverside is 6-14 overall and 1-6 in the Big West.
  • Alexis Urbach leads the team with 153 kills and is posting a 2.51 per-set average.
  • The Highlanders are second in the Big West with a 15.28 dig average.
  • Pacing the team is conference leader, Maddie Hubbell, who is just one of two players in the conference to have more than 300 digs this year.
  • Hubbell is averaging 4.78 per set and she is second on the team with 15 aces.
  • UCI holds a 31-12 series lead against UCR.
  • The Anteaters recorded a sweep earlier this month at Crawford Court and looks to stretch its series win streak to five matches against UC Riverside.

 

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