SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Irvine snapped a four-match winning streak with a 3-0 loss at UC Santa Barbara at The Thunderdome Saturday.

The Anteaters even their conference record to 1-1 and go to 8-4 overall. UCSB is 6-8 overall and 2-0 in Big West action.

UCI hit .078 (25-17-103) and five blocks, the second lowest marks of the season. The Anteaters also had a season-low one ace.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Outside hitter Joy Umeh led the Anteaters with eight kills
>Setter Kelly Negron topped the squad with 13 digs and 12 set assists
>Outside Hitter Grace Colburn added five kills, an ace
>UCSB was led by Tallulah Froley with 14 kills
>The Gauchos hit .242 and had four aces and eight blocks

TURNING POINTS
FIRST SET
>UCI led 4-3 before UCSB scored six in a row, one an ace and three kills, to take a 9-4 lead
>The Anteaters would rally on their own 6-0 run, which included kills by Joy Umeh and Grace Colburn (2) and a block by Umeh and Kiani Stanton, plus two Gaucho errors to get within 18-19
>UCSB would use a block, an Anteater attack error and two kills by Tallulah Froley to create some separation late, 24-19
>UCSB would win 25-20

SECOND SET
>A block by Marianna Bertolone and Kiani Stanton was followed by two more UCSB attack errors to give the Anteaters the early 3-0 lead
>UCSB would battle back and tie the set at 7-7
>A kill by Bertolone and two consecutive Gaucho attack errors put the Anteaters back on top 10-8
>UCSB's Michelle Ohwobete had three consecutive kills followed by five UCI errors to give the Gauchos their first lead of the set, 18-15. Another Gaucho kill would make the streak eight in a row
>UCSB would out-score UCI 6-1 to end the set 25-17
>UCI hit -.048 (6-8-42)

THIRD SET
>UCSB would take control of the set scoring five in a row, 14-11
>Once again UCSB ended strong scoring the final seven points to complete the 3-0 victory, 25-16

NOTES
>UCI snapped a four-match winning streak
>Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu was held to a season-low two kills, but had a team-best three blocks

UP NEXT
UCI will return home to host UC Davis Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Bren Events Center. Fans will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours to gain entrance. Masks are required indoors unless actively eating or drinking