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Cal Poly at UC Irvine
Friday, Nov. 26 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
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CSU Bakersfield at UC Irvine
Saturday, Nov. 27 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
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FIRST SERVE
UCI will close out the regular season hosting Cal Poly Friday (Nov. 26) and CSU Bakersfield Saturday (Nov. 27). Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.
 
STORYLINES
UCI is 16-12 overall and 9-9 in league action.
 
UCI is 9-3 at home.
 
The Mustangs are in third in the Big West standings with an 11-7 record. They are 13-16 overall.
 
UCI defeated Cal Poly 3-0 in the first meeting behind a .345 hitting percentage (54-15-113), the third best of the season for the Anteaters.
 
The Anteaters' defense was just as impressive, out-blocking Cal Poly 9-2 and out-digging them 53-39. UCI held the Cal Poly offense to a .157 hitting percentage.
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UCI hadn't beaten Cal Poly since 2014 and had only taken three sets total off the Mustangs during that span.

UCI was led by sophomore Joy Umeh who put away 20 kills, followed by freshman Marianna Bertolone who posted a then-career-high 14 kills and a career and match-high 15 digs.  
 
Tommi Stockham paced the Mustangs with 16 kills.
 
CSUB enters the week 17-9 overall and 10-8 in the Big West.
 
The Anteaters have gone to five sets seven times this year, including against CSU Bakersfield in the first meeting. UCI, who is 3-4 when going the distance, won the first two sets, but could not hold off the Roadrunners as CSUB won the final three sets.
 
Umeh had a match-high 22 kills versus the 'Runners. Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu had a then-career-high 20 kills, hitting .405 (20-5-37). She also totaled four total blocks.
 
Brooke Boiseau had a team-high 17 kills for CSUB.

The Roadrunners out-hit (.265-.248), out-blocked (12-7) and out-aced (11-8) UCI. The Anteaters held a 66-58 dig advantage.
 
Libero Carly Richter had five aces, which is tied for 11th most in a match at UCI.
 
DARNELL TABBED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bailey Darnell was named Big West Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.14 digs per set last week.

Darnell recorded a career-high 26 digs versus the Titans, the most by an Anteater this season. She followed it with 10 digs in three sets at Long Beach State.
 
For the season, Darnell is averaging 1.74 digs per set.
 
LAST WEEK LOOK BACK
UCI beat Cal State Fullerton, 3-1 then lost to Long Beach State, 0-3.
 
Against the Titans, several Anteaters logged career highs, including Onye Ofoegbu who finished with a career-high 23 kills on .688 (23-1-32) hitting, while Marianna Bertolone registered a double-double with a career-best 15 kills to go along with 11 digs.
 
UCI hit .337 on the night with 68 kills and only 11 errors. The Anteaters held an 85-76 advantage in digs, the second best dig total of the season.
 
The next night, UCI hit The Anteaters hit -.044 (19-23-91) compared to LBSU's .310 (39-13-84). The team's 19 kills was the fewest of 2021.

Ofeogbu led the Anteaters with a team-high six kills and two total blocks. Umeh had five kills, her fewest since she had a season-low four on Sept. 10 versus Fairfield.
 
OFOEGBU MOVING UP
Sophomore Onye Ofoegbu is currently sixth in the UCI season records with 115 block assists. She is five shy of Arielle Manz' fifth place120 set in 2003. Head coach Ashlie Hain's teammate Dana Kurzbard holds the top mark with 143 set in 2003.
 
Ofoegbu is ranked 24th nationally in total blocks with 131.
 
She is third in the conference with a 1.24 blocks per set mark. The middle blocker is also ranked second in hitting percentage (.404), fourth in points (3.99) and eighth in kills (3.17).
 
SPINDT SUPPORT
Freshman Emma Spindt has started the last two matches and is averaging 1.33 kills and 1.54 digs per set overall.
 
She posted a career-best 14 digs versus the Titans to go with six kills.
 
KIKTA DOUBLES UP
Setter Caitlin Kikta has recorded six double-doubles this season, including a career-high 28 set assists and 11 digs versus Cal State Fullerton.
 
She is averaging 4.51 set assists and 2.07 digs this season plus adding nine aces over 45 sets.
 
UMEH UPDATE
Joy Umeh leads UCI with a 3.70 kill average. She ranks third in the Big West in kills and points (4.02).
 
The sophomore has totaled kills in double-figures 22 times and has led the team in kills on 17 occasions.
 
BEING BERTOLONE
Freshman Marianna Bertolone is third on the team in kills, averaging 2.08 per set.
 
The outside hitter totaled a career-high 15 kills in the win over the Titans, her eighth double-digit performance of the year. She is also averaging 1.93 digs and has 18 aces.