Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine topped UC Santa Barbara 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18) in the regular season finale at the Bren Events Center Tuesday.

The Anteaters improve to 22-7 overall, the most wins since 2009 when the squad also had 22 wins. UCI finishes third in the Big West with a 10-6 league record, sending seniors Luna Tsujimoto, Brianna Montgomery and Chloe Hakim off with a victory in their final home match.

UCI sophomore middle blocker Makayla had a career night, putting-away a team-high 16 kills and rejecting a match-and season best seven blocks. Wolfe hit .536 (16-1-28) on the night.

Junior middle blocker Idara Akpakpa added 13 kills and hit .550 (13-2-20), while juniors Haley DeSales and Harlee Kekauoha each added 11 kills. Tsujimoto led UCI with 16 digs with DeSales following with 11. Setter Ali Koumelis totaled 49 set assists and 10 digs.

The Anteaters out-hit (.359-.232), out-blocked (8-5) and out-dug (62-61) the Gauchos who were led by Linday Ruddins' 18 kills.

In the first set, a kill and block by Makayla Wolfe gave UCI an early 6-2 lead. The Anteaters would go on a 6-1 run to take an 18-10 advantage. Back-to-back aces by UCSB's Lindsey Ruddins narrowed the margin to 18-14, but a kill by Haley DeSales would stop the momentum. A block by Wolfe and Harlee Kekauoha gave UCI the 25-18 victory.

UCI held a 22-20 lead in the second set before the Gauchos scored seven of the final eight points to win the set 25-23.

With UCI leading 20-19 in the third, UCSB had three straight errors to give UCI the 23-19 lead. Idara Akpakpa would end the set with a kill, 25-21.

A 5-1 run in the fourth set, gave the Anteaters 16-12 lead. DeSales served four points, including a pair of kills by Brianna Montgomery to give UCI the 21-15 edge. Consecutive kills by Ali Koumelis and Montgomery ended the match, 25-18.

The Anteaters will wait for the National Invitational Volleyball Championship selection on Sunday (Nov. 26) to determine their post-season fate.