Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – Haley DeSales and Idara Akpakpa led UCI with 11 kills each in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-17) victory over Montana State at the UCI/LBSU Invitational held at the Bren Events Center.

The difference in the match was putting the ball away as UCI had 46 kills on 89 attempts and Montana State had just 20 kills in 90 attacks. UCI hit .393 to the Bobcats' .089 and recorded 49 digs to MSU's 30. Montana State out-blocked UCI, 6-2.

UCI improves to 10-1 tying the record for best program start in 1981.

Akpakpa hit .667 with just one error in 15 swings, while DeSales added eight digs and an ace. Harlee Kekauoha recorded nine kills and seven digs followed by Makayla Wolfe with seven kills. Luna Tsujimoto had a match-high 14 digs.

UCI fired eight aces led by Brianna Montgomery with three and Ali Koumelis with two to complement 36 set assists.

UCI broke the first set open behind Harlee Kekauoha at the service line, serving four straight points including an ace, 8-3. The Anteaters scored four more, three on kills by Haley DeSales, 18-6. DeSales would also put down the set winner, 25-12.

Brianna Montgomery had two aces as UCI jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead. A 7-0 run which included three kills by Idara Akpakpa and an ace by DeSales moved the gap to 18-8. The Anteaters would win 25-12 on a kill by Bria Beale.

The Anteaters took control of the third set with a 6-0 run which included two kills by DeSales and one each by Kekauoha and Makayla Wolfe plus another ace by Montgomery, 13-5.  Another ace, this time by Luna Tsujimoto, pushed the score to 19-9 and the Anteaters would go on to win 25-17.

UCI will be back in action tonight at 7:00 p.m. when they battle San Francisco at the Bren Center. Prior to the UCI match, Montana State and CSU Bakersfield will tangle at 5:00 p.m.