After a year off from competition, the Anteaters were ready to play and they made the most of it recording a 17-13 record overall, the most wins since 2017 when the club went 24-9.

UCI has reached double-figure wins in nine of the last 10 years and 17 of the last 19 seasons.

UCI went 10-10 in Big West matches, finishing in a tie for fifth place.

The Anteaters went 8-3 during the non-conference play with Onye Ofoegbu and Joy Umeh both earning all-tournament team honors at the Bengal Invitational and UCI/adidas Invitational.

Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu ended the season 15^th in the country in hitting percentage (.409) and 17^th in total blocks (142).

Ofoegbu had the conference's best hitting percentage, posting a .786 mark against Sacred Heart. The mark is tied for fifth best in a match at UCI.

Joy Umeh recorded a career-high 26 kills in a win over Long Beach State, a mark that was tied for the most in the Big West this season. She had 20 kills in the sweep of Cal Poly, the most in a three-set match by a Big West player in 2021.

DYNAMIC DUO
UCI sophomores Onye Ofoegbu and Joy Umeh were both named to the All-Big West first team.

UCI has had multiple first team selections six of the last seven years.

Ofoegbu was second in the conference in hitting percentage (.409) and in blocks (1.26), fourth in total points (4.01) and eighth in kills (3.18). She totaled the most block assists (123) and total blocks (144) in the league.

Umeh ranked third in the Big West in kills (3.73) and points (4.04) and 15^th in hitting percentage (.268) per set. She led UCI in kills on 20 occasions and recorded double-figure kills 23 times, including 20 or more kills in five of those matches.

Against conference opponents, she was second in kill average with a 3.81 mark.

Umeh was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, while Ofoegbu grabbed the honor once.

OFOEGBU IN THE UCI RECORD BOOKS
The sophomore middle blocker ended the year fifth in block assists in a season (123), third in hitting percentage (.409) and seventh in solo blocks (21).

Ofoegbu had a career-high 10 block assists versus UC San Diego, which was tied for 10^th for block assists in a match.

SOPHOMORE SUCCESS
Setter Kelly Negron totaled 637 set assists this season and has 1,521 in her career. She is now ninth all-time at UCI. The sophomore was 11^th among Big West players with a 5.64 set assists average.

Libero Bailey Darnell started the final five matches and recorded double figure digs in each one, including a team and career-high 26 against Cal State Fullerton. She ended the year with a 2.11 average in 54 sets. The Hawaii native was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year on Nov. 22.

Setter Caitlin Kikta played in 47 sets and averaged 4.40 set assists per set. She had six double-doubles and averaged 1.98 digs per set.

FRESHMEN IMPACT
UCI had 11 freshmen play this season with several making a huge impact.

Outside hitter Marianna Bertolone was third on the team in kills with a 2.05 average. She started every match this season, averaging 2.00 digs per set, while adding 18 aces.

Libero Carly Richter led the team in digs with a 3.32 average, good for 11^th in the Big West. She ranked eighth among Big West players in ace average (0.29). Richter had a career-high five aces at CSU Bakersfield, which is tied for 11^th most in a match at UCI.

Ellen Veargason averaged 1.39 kills and 0.80 blocks on the rightside. She had a career-best 13 kills against UC Riverside and posted a career-high six blocks twice.

Setter Indy DeSmet averaged 4.16 set assists and 1.93 digs per set. She had four double-doubles in her initial campaign.

Outside hitter Grace Colburn averaged 1.31 kills in 87 sets. She added 19 aces and owned a 1.83 dig average.

Outside hitter Emma Spindt and middle blocker Ofure Iselen came on strong during conference play. Spindt ended with a 1.22 kill and 1.41 dig average, while Iselen averaged 0.76 blocks per set.