Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine swept its fifth consecutive opponent in a 3-0 victory over CSU Bakersfield (25-21, 25-21, 25-11) in the final match of the UCI/LBSU Invitational at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon.

The Anteaters extended the program's best season-starting record to 12-1 and are riding a six-match winning streak. The Roadrunners go to 6-8 overall.

Opposite Harlee Kekauoha did not commit an attack error in 20 attempts as she led UCI with 13 kills and .650 hitting percentage. Outside hitter Haley DeSales recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 11 kills and 11 digs.  Libero Luna Tsujimoto also had 11 digs in the win.

The middle blocking core was solid on both sides of the ball with Idara Akpakpa recording eight kills and four total blocks and Makayla Wolfe adding seven kills, four total blocks and two aces.

Setter Ali Koumelis directed the Anteaters to a .467 hitting mark (16-2-30) in the third set and a .321 percentage (46-12-106) for the match. She also totaled 35 set assists and eight digs.

Bakersfield's Sydney Haynes topped the squad with eight kills, while Haylee Roberts had seven block assists. The Roadrunners hit .168 for the match (34-16-107).

CSU Bakersfield used a 4-1 spurt, which included two blocks to take a 7-4 advantage in the first set. A couple of Haley DeSales kills and a Makayla Wolfe ace helped UCI chip away and move in front 11-9. Bakersfield would close within one several times, but the Anteaters would never relinquish the lead, using three straight CSUB attack errors, the last a block by Idara Akpakpa to increase the UCI lead to 21-17. Ali Koumelis would shoot the ball over following a Haley DeSales dig to end the set, 25-21.

In the second set, UCI won the first three points then extended the lead to 6-3 on a Wolfe solo block. Back-to-back kills by Harlee Kekauoha and Wolfe pushed the margin to 19-13. CSUB scored three unanswered to creep to 24-21, but a kill by DeSales ended the set 25-21.

UCI started with a healthy 6-0 lead in the third set on the strength of three blocks and cruised to a 25-11 victory. Akpakpa dominated the middle of the net in the set with five kills and three total blocks.

The Anteaters head back on the road, opening the Big West schedule at Hawaii next Friday (Sept. 22) at the Stan Sheriff Center.