Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine won its fifth straight match with a 3-0 victory (25-8, 25-17, 25-21) over UC Riverside in the annual Think Pink match at the Bren Events Center.

The Anteaters, who donned hot pink jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, improved to a program best 17-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big West. UCI also remained undefeated at home 7-0.

"Think Pink night was special," head coach Ashlie Hain said. "We got to honor some family members of our team who have been affected by breast cancer and have some in attendance. Everyone was in a good mood and there was a good vibe throughout the Bren."

Junior Harlee Kekauoha led the Anteaters with 11 kills, 14 digs, three block assists and two aces.

Junior Haley DeSales added 10 kills and eight digs, while senior Brianna Montgomery had eight kills and sophomore Makayla Wolfe had eight kills, hitting .538 with three total blocks. Junior Idara Akpakpa collected seven kills and three total blocks and libero Luna Tsujimoto had a match-best 15 digs. Setter Ali Koumelis tallied 36 set assists and eight digs.

The Anteaters held the Highlanders to a .064 hitting percentage, while hitting .333 (47-12-105). UCI held a 52-39 advantage in digs and topped UCR in blocks 8-6.

UC Riverside was paced by Kaluiani Ahuna with eight kills. Libero Nicole Rodriquez had a team-high 12 digs and Yuliya Ushakova had a match-high five blocks.

UCI started the first set with a quick 8-1 lead behind the tough serving of Harlee Kekauoha. The Anteaters would keep rolling and finish the set without committing a hitting error in a 25-8 victory. UCI hit .630 (17-0-27) to the Highlanders' .037 (5-4-27).

UCI would lead 15-8 before the Highlanders had three blocks and an ace to creep within 15-12. The Anteaters would score the next three points, including two blocks to extend the advantage back to 18-12. UCI would go on to win the set 25-17. 

Back to back kills by Idara Akpakpa and Haley DeSales gave UCI a 7-4 lead in the third set and would never relinquish the lead winning 25-21 on a block by Ali Koumelis.

UCI remains at home hosting UC Davis next Saturday (Oct. 21) at 2:00 p.m. in Crawford Court.