UC Irvine Battles UC Santa Barbara; CSUN
October 26, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine
Friday, Oct. 29 | 7:00Β PM | Bren Events Center
Live StatsΒ Β Β Β ESPN+
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CSUN at UC Irvine
Saturday, Oct. 30 | 5:00Β PM | Bren Events Center
Live StatsΒ Β Β Β ESPN+
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FIRST SERVE
UCI will start the second half of the Big West schedule hosting UC Santa Barbara Friday (Oct. 29) at 7:00 p.m. then CSUN Saturday (Oct. 30) at 5:00 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Bren Events Center.
Please note: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours is required to enter the Bren Events Center. Attendance Policy for Women's Volleyball. UCI has a clear bag policy and requires mobile ticketing.
STORYLINES
UCI is 13-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big West.
UCI sits in fourth place in the Big West standings.
UC Santa Barbara beat Hawaii, handing the Rainbow Wahine their first loss of the year, and are tied for first in the standings at 9-1.
The Gauchos are 13-9 on the season.
The 13 wins by both teams are the most in Big West this season.
The two teams are the best in the conference in hitting percentage with UCSB holding the top spot at .267 and UCI following at .240.
The Gauchos are second in blocking (2.45) and UCI is third (2.25).
UCSB beat UCI 3-0 in the first meeting. UCI hit .078 (25-17-103), the second lowest mark of the season. Joy Umeh led the Anteaters with eight kills. UCSB was led by Tallulah Froley with 14 kills.
CSUN enters the week 4-16 on the year and 3-7 against conference opponents.
The Anteaters beat the Matadors, 3-1 to open up the Big West schedule.
Freshman Marianna Bertolone and sophomore Onye Ofeogbu paced UCI with 12 kills each. Bertolone recorded her first career double-double with 10 digs. CSUN was led by Nieko Thomas with 12 kills
PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS AGAIN FOR UMEH
For the second consecutive week, Joy Umeh was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week.
The 5-8 outside hitter averaged 5.25 kills per set, logging two more 20-kill performances. She put away 22 kills versus CSU Bakersfield and then 20 kills in the three-set win over Cal Poly.Β She hit. .366 and also added a dig and two block assists versus the Mustangs.
Her 22 kills are tied for fourth most by a Big West player this season. The sophomore has totaled 20 or more kills in three consecutive matches. Umeh owns the top mark in the conference this season with 26 kills in a win against Long Beach State.
Umeh is ranked second in kills (3.89) and third in points (4.17).
BERTOLONE BREAKS OUT
Freshman Marianna Bertolone had an impressive weekend, averaging 2.88 kills and 3.50 digs.
The outside hitter totaled nine kills and a then-career high 13 digs versus Roadrunners then had a career-night against Cal Poly, recording a personal best 14 kills and 15 digs. It is her second career double-double of her career.
The freshman is third on the team in kills averaging 2.01. She is also averaging 1.81 digs and has 13 aces.
OFOEGBU EYES RECORD BOOK
Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu has 86 block assists in 2021 and is 17 shy of breaking into UCI's Top 10 for most block assists in a season. She has recorded 16 solo blocks which is four shy of a tie for eighth.
The sophomore averaged 1.38 blocks to go with 3.25 kills last week She totaled a career-high 20 kills and five total blocks versus CSUB. She had six blocks (2 solo, 4 assisted) in three sets versus Cal Poly.
On the season, Ofoegbu leads the Big West and is 22nd nationally in blocking with a 1.36 mark. Her 102 total block ranks 15th in the country.
She is third in hitting percentage (.403), sixth in kills (3.15) and fourth in points (4.04) in the Big West.
AT THE SERVICE LINE
UCI recorded eight service aces versus CSUB, which were tied for second most this season.
Richter leads the team and is fifth in the Big West with a 0.35 ace average. She is also 14th in the Big West in digs at 3.13 per set.
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UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine
Friday, Oct. 29 | 7:00Β PM | Bren Events Center
Live StatsΒ Β Β Β ESPN+
Β
CSUN at UC Irvine
Saturday, Oct. 30 | 5:00Β PM | Bren Events Center
Live StatsΒ Β Β Β ESPN+
Β
FIRST SERVE
UCI will start the second half of the Big West schedule hosting UC Santa Barbara Friday (Oct. 29) at 7:00 p.m. then CSUN Saturday (Oct. 30) at 5:00 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Bren Events Center.
Please note: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours is required to enter the Bren Events Center. Attendance Policy for Women's Volleyball. UCI has a clear bag policy and requires mobile ticketing.
STORYLINES
UCI is 13-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big West.
UCI sits in fourth place in the Big West standings.
UC Santa Barbara beat Hawaii, handing the Rainbow Wahine their first loss of the year, and are tied for first in the standings at 9-1.
The Gauchos are 13-9 on the season.
The 13 wins by both teams are the most in Big West this season.
The two teams are the best in the conference in hitting percentage with UCSB holding the top spot at .267 and UCI following at .240.
The Gauchos are second in blocking (2.45) and UCI is third (2.25).
UCSB beat UCI 3-0 in the first meeting. UCI hit .078 (25-17-103), the second lowest mark of the season. Joy Umeh led the Anteaters with eight kills. UCSB was led by Tallulah Froley with 14 kills.
CSUN enters the week 4-16 on the year and 3-7 against conference opponents.
The Anteaters beat the Matadors, 3-1 to open up the Big West schedule.
Freshman Marianna Bertolone and sophomore Onye Ofeogbu paced UCI with 12 kills each. Bertolone recorded her first career double-double with 10 digs. CSUN was led by Nieko Thomas with 12 kills
PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS AGAIN FOR UMEH
For the second consecutive week, Joy Umeh was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week.
The 5-8 outside hitter averaged 5.25 kills per set, logging two more 20-kill performances. She put away 22 kills versus CSU Bakersfield and then 20 kills in the three-set win over Cal Poly.Β She hit. .366 and also added a dig and two block assists versus the Mustangs.
Her 22 kills are tied for fourth most by a Big West player this season. The sophomore has totaled 20 or more kills in three consecutive matches. Umeh owns the top mark in the conference this season with 26 kills in a win against Long Beach State.
Umeh is ranked second in kills (3.89) and third in points (4.17).
BERTOLONE BREAKS OUT
Freshman Marianna Bertolone had an impressive weekend, averaging 2.88 kills and 3.50 digs.
The outside hitter totaled nine kills and a then-career high 13 digs versus Roadrunners then had a career-night against Cal Poly, recording a personal best 14 kills and 15 digs. It is her second career double-double of her career.
The freshman is third on the team in kills averaging 2.01. She is also averaging 1.81 digs and has 13 aces.
OFOEGBU EYES RECORD BOOK
Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu has 86 block assists in 2021 and is 17 shy of breaking into UCI's Top 10 for most block assists in a season. She has recorded 16 solo blocks which is four shy of a tie for eighth.
The sophomore averaged 1.38 blocks to go with 3.25 kills last week She totaled a career-high 20 kills and five total blocks versus CSUB. She had six blocks (2 solo, 4 assisted) in three sets versus Cal Poly.
On the season, Ofoegbu leads the Big West and is 22nd nationally in blocking with a 1.36 mark. Her 102 total block ranks 15th in the country.
She is third in hitting percentage (.403), sixth in kills (3.15) and fourth in points (4.04) in the Big West.
AT THE SERVICE LINE
UCI recorded eight service aces versus CSUB, which were tied for second most this season.
Richter leads the team and is fifth in the Big West with a 0.35 ace average. She is also 14th in the Big West in digs at 3.13 per set.
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Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballFriday, August 14
Sunday, August 09
Wednesday, December 03
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