FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The UC Irvine offense couldn't get going in a 3-0 loss to Fairfield at the Sacred Heart Invitational Friday.

The Stags (3-5) would hit .342 (34-8-76) and win by the scores of 25-15, 25-14, 25-21. UCI (4-3) would hit a season-low .011 (23-22-94).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>UCI was led by middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu with six kills
>Freshman Grace Colburn had four kills and a team-high seven digs
>Sophomore Joy Umeh, UCI's kill leader, also added four kills
>Fairfield's KJ Johnson topped all players with eight kills
>The Stags out-blocked the Anteaters 8-3

TURNING POINTS
FIRST SET
>UCI opened the match with a kill by Kiani Stanton before Fairfield scored the next five points, four on UCI errors to jump out to a 5-1 lead
>Fairfield only had one kill, but four blocks as they took an 11-4 lead. UCI was hitting  -.200 (3-6-15)
>UCI would crawl back in to the match on three Fairfield errors and an ace by Marianna Bertolone, 11-7
>The offensive troubles would continue as the Stags won the set 25-15. The Anteaters would hit -.111 (7-10-27)
>Fairfield hit .538 (7-0-13) while recording two aces and four total blocks

SET TWO
>A 4-1 run by Fairfield helped the Stags to a 7-3 advantage
>The Stags score four in a row, three on UCI errors to take a 15-8 lead
>UCI couldn't recover falling 25-14
>The Anteaters offense continued to stall, hitting -.057 (6-8-35)

SET THREE
>Fairfield strung four straight points together to open an 8-3 lead
>UCI would come to life, using kills by Onye Ofoegbu, Bertolone and Grace Colburn and plus an ace by Caitlin Kikta to tie the set at 13-13
>The Stags would answer with a 6-1 run to regain control, 19-14
>Three more points by Fairfield extended the lead to 22-15
>A kill by Georgia Via ended the set 25-21 and the match

NOTES
>It is the first time UCI has been shutout this season
>UCI's three blocks is a season-low

UP NEXT
>UCI looks to rebound with two matches tomorrow, starting with tournament host Sacred Heart at 10:00 a.m. PT followed by Lafayette at 1:00 p.m. PT