IRVINE, Calif. – Alexandre Nsakanda and Akhil Tangutur put away career-highs as No. 7 UC Irvine defeated No. 8 Grand Canyon 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 24-26, 25-18) at the Bren Events Center Friday.

High flying Nsakanda posted a career-best 19 kills on 47 swings, while Tangutur made the most of his first start at the Bren with a career-high 10 kills, 10 digs and three total blocks.


UCI improves to 8-7 overall, snapping a four match losing skid. GCU goes to 12-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Joel Schneidmiller also record double-figure kills with 13 as well as a season-high six total blocks
>Scott Stadick led all players with nine total blocks (1 solo, 8 assisted)
>JB Kam moved to libero and tied his season-high with 11 digs
> GCU also had a trio of players in double-digit kills, led by Camden Gianni with 17. Christian Janke (13) and Kyle Thompson (11) followed 

HEAD COACH DAVID KNIFFIN SAID
"The story tonight has to be about senior leadership from Scott and JB. They both brought a calming presence to the court and stepped up big when we needed them. Akhil brought great energy. He was a gamer. He has always been a great volleyball player and tonight I thought he really shined in how he loved the moment and played big in the big moments."

TURNING POINTS
FIRST SET
>UCI scored three unanswered on an Antelope service and attack error plus a kill from Scott Stadick to move in front 13-9
>A 5-1 run which included a kill and solo block by Joel Schneidmiller extended the gap to 20-12
>A GCU service error gave UCI the set 25-17

SECOND SET
>Grand Canyon would go up 11-8 on an ace by Kyle Thompson
>The 'Lopes would hold an 18-14 lead before the Anteaters would catch GCU at 18 on three consecutive blocks all involving Stadick
>Two GCU errors put UCI at set point 24-22. Following a GCU kill an Antelope attack error ended the set, 25-23
>UCI hit .393 to GCU's .147

THIRD SET
>UCI jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead
>Grand Canyon would tie the score at 6-6 then took the lead at 10-7
>UCI would close to 12-11 before GCU regained control at 14-11
>A pair of Schneidmiller kills helped knot the score at 14-14
>The teams would remain close until GCU would score the final two points on a Thompson kill and an ace by Hugo Fisher, 26-24 

FOURTH SET
>A kill and solo block by Akhil Tangutur put UCI up 9-5
>Another kill and ace by Tangutur moved the margin to 12-7
>Back-to-back blocks forced a Grand Canyon timeout as the Anteaters took a 17-10 advantage
>Another GCU service error handed UCI the set 25-18 and the match 3-1 

NOTES
>The Anteaters have out-blocked their opponents 10 times this season
>It is the 10^th time this year Nsakanda has led the Anteaters in kills
>The Anteaters are 7-3 In four set matches
>UCI recognized World Rare Disease Awareness Day by wearing denim ribbons