Key Matches Await UC Irvine
October 23, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
CSUN at UC Irvine
Thursday, Oct. 25 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
Long Beach State at UC Irvine
Saturday, Oct. 27 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
UC Irvine at Cal Poly
Tuesday, Oct. 30 | 7:00 PM | Mott Gym
Live Stats Video
The Anteaters embark on important matches down the stretch, entertaining CSUN on Thursday (Oct. 25) and Long Beach State Saturday (Oct. 27) at the Bren Events Center. First serve for both matches is at 7:00 p.m.
The Anteaters will quickly then hit the road for the next three matches beginning Tuesday (Oct. 30) at No. 11 Cal Poly. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Mott Athletics Center.
Saturday's showdown with Long Beach State is part of the Black & Blue Rivalry Series presented by Duke's of Huntington Beach. After just two events, UCI leads LBSU 3-2. The cross country teams will compete against each other for points at the Big West Championships Saturday morning.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
CSUN is 6-15 on the year and 2-7 in Big West action. The Matadors have dropped the last four matches, including two last week to Cal Poly (3-0) and UC Santa Barbara (3-2).
UCI beat the Matadors 3-0 in Northridge in the first meeting, including a 10-point comeback in the first set.
Abby Marjama led UCI with nine kills followed by Loryn Carter and Idara Akpakpa with eight each. CSUN's Aeryn Owens had a match-high 12 kills to go with 10 digs.
The Forty-Niners, who will travel to UC Davis before coming to the Bren, enter the week 13-10 overall and 5-5 in the Big West.
Last week, Long Beach State defeated UC Santa Barbara, 3-2 before falling to Cal Poly, 3-1. The Forty-Niners join Hawaii as the only Big West school to take a set off the Mustangs.
UC Irvine lost the first set then battled back to win the next three in the first meeting with Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid. Blocking was a key to the victory as UCI won the battle of the net with a 12.0-9.5 advantage. Akpakpa tied her career-high with nine total blocks. The Anteaters had four players in double figure kills, led by Loryn Carter with 13. Long Beach State was led by Kashauna Williams with 15 kills.
Cal Poly is the league's top team with a 19-1 overall record and perfect 9-0 conference mark. The Mustangs have won 18 matches in a row as well as a program-record 25 consecutive Big West matches dating back to 2016. Pittsburgh was the only team to take down Cal Poly in the second match of the year.
The Mustangs will travel to Hawaii on Friday before hosting the Anteaters.
Cal Poly is the only Big West team the Anteaters have not played yet this season.
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
UCI is 12-8 overall and 6-2 in the Big West.
The Anteaters dropped a tough 3-2 loss on the road at UC Davis last Saturday.
UCI hit just .115 (50-31-165), the worst hitting performance since Nov. 10, 2016 when the club had a .067 performance against Hawaii.
Freshman Abby Marjama led the team for the eighth time this season with 12 kills and a career-high 15 digs.
The loss versus the Matadors snapped a season-best five match winning streak.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Four UCI players average two or more kills per set.
Outside hitter Loryn Carter leads the team with a 2.93 kill average. She has recorded kills in double-figures seven times and has led the squad on seven occasions.
Freshman Abby Marjama is second on the team in kills with a 2.51 average. The outside hitter ranks 17th nationally in aces with a 0.47 average. The three-time Big West Freshman of the Week fired nine aces against Saint Mary's, which is the second most in the country.
Harlee Kekaouha is also averaging 2.51 kills as well as 2.14 digs. The senior looks to return after missing the last two matches.
Middle blocker Idara Akpakpa is fourth on the squad averaging 2.19 kills. She ranks second in the Big West in blocks (1.07) and sixth in hitting percentage (.313).
HALE TO DESALES
Libero Haley DeSales has popped up 346 digs this season, the second most in the Big West this year and the 26th most in UCI season history. She has collected double-figure digs in all but one match. The senior is averaging 4.74 digs per set.
THE QUARTERBACK
Setter Ali Koumelis has led UCI to .246 hitting percentage in Big West matches, second only to Cal Poly (.329).
The senior is third in the league in set assists overall at 9.52 per game. She is averaging 2.52 digs with nine double-doubles on the season.
CSUN at UC Irvine
Thursday, Oct. 25 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
Long Beach State at UC Irvine
Saturday, Oct. 27 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
UC Irvine at Cal Poly
Tuesday, Oct. 30 | 7:00 PM | Mott Gym
Live Stats Video
The Anteaters embark on important matches down the stretch, entertaining CSUN on Thursday (Oct. 25) and Long Beach State Saturday (Oct. 27) at the Bren Events Center. First serve for both matches is at 7:00 p.m.
The Anteaters will quickly then hit the road for the next three matches beginning Tuesday (Oct. 30) at No. 11 Cal Poly. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Mott Athletics Center.
Saturday's showdown with Long Beach State is part of the Black & Blue Rivalry Series presented by Duke's of Huntington Beach. After just two events, UCI leads LBSU 3-2. The cross country teams will compete against each other for points at the Big West Championships Saturday morning.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
CSUN is 6-15 on the year and 2-7 in Big West action. The Matadors have dropped the last four matches, including two last week to Cal Poly (3-0) and UC Santa Barbara (3-2).
UCI beat the Matadors 3-0 in Northridge in the first meeting, including a 10-point comeback in the first set.
Abby Marjama led UCI with nine kills followed by Loryn Carter and Idara Akpakpa with eight each. CSUN's Aeryn Owens had a match-high 12 kills to go with 10 digs.
The Forty-Niners, who will travel to UC Davis before coming to the Bren, enter the week 13-10 overall and 5-5 in the Big West.
Last week, Long Beach State defeated UC Santa Barbara, 3-2 before falling to Cal Poly, 3-1. The Forty-Niners join Hawaii as the only Big West school to take a set off the Mustangs.
UC Irvine lost the first set then battled back to win the next three in the first meeting with Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid. Blocking was a key to the victory as UCI won the battle of the net with a 12.0-9.5 advantage. Akpakpa tied her career-high with nine total blocks. The Anteaters had four players in double figure kills, led by Loryn Carter with 13. Long Beach State was led by Kashauna Williams with 15 kills.
Cal Poly is the league's top team with a 19-1 overall record and perfect 9-0 conference mark. The Mustangs have won 18 matches in a row as well as a program-record 25 consecutive Big West matches dating back to 2016. Pittsburgh was the only team to take down Cal Poly in the second match of the year.
The Mustangs will travel to Hawaii on Friday before hosting the Anteaters.
Cal Poly is the only Big West team the Anteaters have not played yet this season.
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
UCI is 12-8 overall and 6-2 in the Big West.
The Anteaters dropped a tough 3-2 loss on the road at UC Davis last Saturday.
UCI hit just .115 (50-31-165), the worst hitting performance since Nov. 10, 2016 when the club had a .067 performance against Hawaii.
Freshman Abby Marjama led the team for the eighth time this season with 12 kills and a career-high 15 digs.
The loss versus the Matadors snapped a season-best five match winning streak.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Four UCI players average two or more kills per set.
Outside hitter Loryn Carter leads the team with a 2.93 kill average. She has recorded kills in double-figures seven times and has led the squad on seven occasions.
Freshman Abby Marjama is second on the team in kills with a 2.51 average. The outside hitter ranks 17th nationally in aces with a 0.47 average. The three-time Big West Freshman of the Week fired nine aces against Saint Mary's, which is the second most in the country.
Harlee Kekaouha is also averaging 2.51 kills as well as 2.14 digs. The senior looks to return after missing the last two matches.
Middle blocker Idara Akpakpa is fourth on the squad averaging 2.19 kills. She ranks second in the Big West in blocks (1.07) and sixth in hitting percentage (.313).
HALE TO DESALES
Libero Haley DeSales has popped up 346 digs this season, the second most in the Big West this year and the 26th most in UCI season history. She has collected double-figure digs in all but one match. The senior is averaging 4.74 digs per set.
THE QUARTERBACK
Setter Ali Koumelis has led UCI to .246 hitting percentage in Big West matches, second only to Cal Poly (.329).
The senior is third in the league in set assists overall at 9.52 per game. She is averaging 2.52 digs with nine double-doubles on the season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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