Box Score ST. LOUIS, MO. – Junior Harlee Kekauoha posted  a match-high 14 kills to lead UC Irvine over Kennesaw State 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23) Friday at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic at Chaifetz  Arena.

The Anteaters improve to 4-0 on the year, winning the last 10 sets. Kennesaw State goes to 2-1.

Kekauoha also recorded two aces and three digs to go with her season-high 14 kills. Junior Haley DeSales followed with 12 kills and 11 digs, her second double-double of the year. Junior Ali Koumelis totaled 35 set assists and nine digs, while libero Luna Tsujimoto had a match-high 13 digs and middle blocker Idara Akpakpa tallied a team-high three blocks plus six kills. Makayla Wolfe had six kills and Brianna Montgomery had five kills and two aces in the win.

UCI out-hit the Owls .273-.152 and fired six aces to their four. The teams each had four blocks.

Liesel Engelbrecht paced Kennesaw State with nine kills. Three Owls recorded double-figure digs: Kristi Piedimonte (11), Karlee Groover (11) and Katarina Morton (10).

With the score 11-10 in the first set, Harlee Kekauoha had a pair of kills plus a block with Idara Akpakpa to open a 14-10 lead. The Anteaters continued to lead, but head coach Ashlie Hain was forced to call a timeout when the Owls closed within 21-19. Out of that break, UCI had consecutive kills by Akpakpa, Kekauoha and Makayle Wolfe to secure a 24-19 cushion. Following two Kennesaw State points, another Wolfe kill ended the set, 25-21.

After trailing 8-6 in the second set, UCI turned up the heat, recording the next five points, including a kill and ace by Brianna Montgomery to take an 11-8 advantage. The Anteaters would score five of the last six points with Kekauoha putting away a kill for the 25-18 win.

The Anteaters would use kills by Ali Koumelis, another ace by Montgomery, a kill by Haley DeSales and a couple of Owl attack errors to take control 12-7. A pair of Kekauoha kills helped to extend the lead to 18-10. Five Anteater errors and an Owl kill helped Kennesaw State sneak to 24-23 before a Kekauoha kill closed out the set and match, 25-23.

Tournament action continues tomorrow with a 10:00 a.m. PT match against host Saint Louis and the Anteaters' final match at 2:30 p.m. against Illinois State.