IRVINE, Calif. – David Parker switched jerseys in the third set and ignited a comeback as No. 8 UC Irvine beat No. 12 CSUN 3-2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-8) at the Bren Events Center.

For the second consecutive night it took five sets to determine the outcome with UCI improving to 15-10 on the year and 3-5 in Big West action. CSUN goes to 11-13 overall and 1-7 in the Big West

HEAD COACH DAVID KNIFFIN SAID
"The story of the night has to be David Parker. His energy provided the spark we need to get a win."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Libero David Parker moved to the outside and ended the night with a season-high eight kills and a team-best 10 digs. He was just as big at the net with four block assists
>Aaron Koubi had a season-high 21 kills and five block assists
>Middle blocker Patrick Sohacki had another impressive match with a career-high nine total blocks (1 solo) and eight kills, hitting .636 (8-1-11)
>Opposite Karl Apfelbach added 12 kills and three block assists
>CSUN was led by Ksawery Tomsia with 19 kills. Taylor Ittner had 51 set assists and a match-high 15 digs

TURNING POINTS
FIRST SET
>UCI had three attack errors in a 5-0 CSUN run to give the Matadors a 12-7 lead
>A 3-1 spurt by CSUN extended the lead to 15-9
>The UCI block came alive late, but CSUN would win 25-17
>The Matadors hit .571 (19-3-28) to UCI's .182 (8-4-22)

SECOND SET
>CSUN scored four straight, two on blocks to take an 8-6 lead
>A kill by Scott Stadick and a pair of Matador mistakes tied the set at 9-9
>Aaron Koubi recorded four kills in a 4-1 UCI spurt to move the Anteaters in front 17-16
>The Matadors would score four straight to open a 20-17 advantage
>A pair of kills by Koubi made it 24-23, but CSUN would win the set 25-23 on a UCI service error

THIRD SET
>UCI made the first move with three in a row ignited by a kill and block by David Parker, 10-6
>A kill by Patrick Sohacki and a Matador attack error increased the lead to 12-7
>Another three straight capped by an ace by Karl Apfelbach helped UCI to an 18-11 advantage
>A huge block by Parker and Sohacki gave UCI set point, 24-14 and the Anteaters would win 25-15 on a CSUN service error
>The Matadors hit .037 (10-9-27) to UCI's .444 (10-2-18)

FOURTH SET
>CSUN would jump out to a 5-2 lead behind the strength of Ksawery Tomsia serving
>With UCI trailing 12-7 the Anteaters went on a 5-1 run which included a pair of kills by Koubi
>UCI would knot the score at 19-19 on a Matador attack error, kill by Apfelbach and a block by Apfelbach and Sohacki
>Back-to-back kills by Koubi and Stadick made it 23-21 then following a CSUN kill, another kill by Koubi was followed by a block by Parker and Stadick, 25-22

FIFTH SET
>The Anteaters scored six in a row, three on blocks, two by Sohacki and Koubi, 7-2
>UCI would go on to the 15-8 victory

NOTES
>UCI had just seven service errors
>Libero AJ Faille had a career-high eight digs
>The Anteaters snap a five-match losing streak
>UCI is 4-1 in five set matches this year

UP NEXT
>UCI will host UC Santa Barbara in the final regular season home match Friday (Apr. 12) at the Bren Center. UCI will celebrate seniors Dante Chakravorti, Karl Apfelbach, Aaron Koubi and David Parker following the match.