SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – UC Irvine led in almost every statistical category, but could not hold off Denver in a 3-2 loss (25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 25-20, 11-15) at the Huntsman Center in the second match of the Utah Volleyball Classic.

UCI falls to 0-2, while the Pioneers go to 2-0 to start the year.   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>UCI out-hit (.186-.128), out-dug (74-60) and out-blocked (14-13) the Pioneers. Denver did lead in aces with a 8 to 5 advantage
>In her second career match, freshman Abby Marjama led the Anteaters with 13 kills, four aces and five digs
>Junior Makayla Wolfe posted a season-high nine block assists
>Senior Harlee Kekauoha recorded her first double-double of the year with 10 kills and 11 digs
>Outside hitter Loryn Carter also added 10 kills in the loss

SET 1
>UCI broke open the first set with a 5-0 run on the strength of an ace by Abby Marjama and a kill and two blocks by Makayla Wolfe to go up 12-6
>Three straight kills by Harlee Kekauoha, Idara Akpakpa and Haley DeSales increased the margin to 16-8
>Denver closed to 21-17 after scoring five straight until a block by Wolfe and Marjama stopped the momentum
>UCI spread the ball around as five players had two or more kills led by Marjama with 3, while Wolfe had 3 blocks

SET 2
>With the help of three aces, Denver went on a 12-2 run and broke open the set, 20-9
>UCI would try to hold off the Pioneers with three set points, but a kill by Emma Willis would finally end the set, 25-19

SET 3
>A 4-1 run by UCI gave the Anteaters the 18-15 advantage
>Denver battled back to tie the score at 20-20 and at 21-21, the Pioneers used an ace and two blocks on their way to a 25-23 victory.

SET 4
>UCI held a 7-3 lead then Denver went on a 5-1 spurt to move in front 10-8.
>A kill by Marjama and a Pioneer attack error put UCI in front 15-13 and they wouldn't relinquish the lead
>The Pioneers would close to 22-20, but the Anteaters would score the final three points, the last two a pair of aces by Marjama, 25-20

SET 5
>UCI trailed 1-3 before rattling off three in a row to take a 4-3 advantage
>Teams remained close until Denver scored three unanswered to take an 11-8 lead and would go on to win 15-11

NOTES
>Freshman Sophie Wood made her first start at setter, collecting 40 set assists and 13 digs
>Haley DeSales led all players for the second consecutive match with career-high tying 19 digs

NEXT
UCI will close out the tournament later today with a match against Saint Mary's at 3:30 p.m. PT