Irvine, Calif. – The UC Irvine offense was clicking on Friday night as the Anteaters swept UC San Diego 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-10) at the Bren Events Center.

Setter Dante Chakravorti guided UC Irvine (5-12, 4-11) to a .405 hitting percentage as a team with middle blocker Jason Agopian hitting .889 on eight kills and no errors on nine attempts. He also rejected four total blocks. Opposite Kyle Russell led all players with 15 kills and two aces.  Outside hitters Tucker Pikula and David Parker added six and five kills, respectively with libero Dillion Hoffman recording a career and match-high 13 digs. UCI out-blocked UCSD 7-4 and held a 40-23 advantage in digs.

UCSD was led by Tanner Syftestad with 14 kills followed by Calvin Manchenko with seven kills. The Tritons hit .146 (32-18-96) for the match.

UC San Diego controlled much of the set until a Kyle Russell kill and Triton attack error tied it up at 15-15. The Anteaters briefly held a 22-21 lead before the Tritons regained the lead 23-22. UCI would answer with the next two points, the second a block by David Parker and Jason Agopian to set up game point, 24-23. Following a kill by Tanner Syftestad, UCI used a Triton service error and an ace by Russell to end the set for the Anteaters 26-24.

Set two was all UC Irvine as the Anteaters cruised to a 25-15 victory. A kill by Tucker Pikula, a Triton attack error and a kill by Marty Ross put UCI in front 17-7 and another Pikula kill extended the lead to 20-9. A UCSD service error ended the set.

The third set was similar to the second as UCI won 25-10. David Parker served six straight points to give UCI a comfortable 21-8 lead as they captured the match.

The two teams will do it again tomorrow (Mar. 5) in La Jolla with a 7:00 p.m. first serve at RIMAC Arena.