Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – UC Irvine suffered its first loss of the season in a 3-0 (20-25, 17-25, 21-25) loss to Louisville at the UNLV Challenge in Cox Pavilion Friday afternoon.

The Anteaters (6-1) hit a season-low .141, while Louisville hit .373 and out-blocked UCI 8-1. The Anteaters were also plagued with 13 service errors.

Junior middle blocker Idara Akpakpa was a bright spot in the Anteater offense with 10 kills, hitting .412. Junior opposite Harlee Kekauoha added nine kills while junior setter Ali Koumelis had 28 set assists and a team-high eight digs.

Louisville (3-3) was led by Melanie McHenry with 10 kills and no errors on 23 swings (.435). Wilma Rivera totaled 24 set assists and joined Molly Sauer with eight digs each.

In the first set, Haley DeSales had a kill to narrow the Louisville lead to 19-18, but the Cardinals would take the next three points and end the set allowing the Anteaters just one more point, 25-20.

Louisville would jump out to an 8-3 lead and never looked back as they won the second set 25-17.

UCI started with a quick 3-1 lead in the third set on a pair of kills by Idara Akpakpa. The Cardinals used a 4-0 spurt, including three UCI errors to open a 10-6 advantage. Back-to back kills by Harlee Kekauoha and Akpakpa plus a Louisville attack error helped UCI close to 13-12 before the Cardinals would answer with a four of the next five points to stretch the lead back to 17-13 and eventually take the set 25-21.

UCI will be back in action at 7:00 p.m. against host UNLV, who defeated Weber State, 3-2 in the first match of the day.