SANTA BARBARA – Slow starts in each set hampered UC Irvine as the Anteaters dropped a 3-0 loss to UC Santa Barbara (19-25, 11-25, 20-25) at the Thunderdome Thursday night.

The Anteaters hit a season-low .039 (26-22-102) compared to UCSB's .252 (42-15-107). The Gauchos out-blocked UCI 10-5. Five blocks is tied for second lowest of the season.

Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu had one block assist and moved into a tie for 10^th all-time in block assists with 271. She ties Taryn Robertson (2006-09) in the 10^th spot.

UCI goes to 13-8 on the year and 6-5 in league action. UCSB goes to 7-0 at home and 13-8 overall, improving to 9-2 in the Big West.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Ofoegbu and Joy Umeh led UCI with six kills each. Ofoegbu ended with three total blocks, recording two solos to go with the one assisted
>Sophomore Marianna Bertolone had five kills
>Setter Kelly Negron had her ninth double-double, totaling 12 set assists and 10 digs
>Libero Campbell Jensen had a team-best 12 digs
>Briana McKnight led UCSB with 14 kills, hitting .417 (14-4-24). Peed Macall had 15 digs, while Nia Correal had six total blocks

FIRST SET
>UCI's passing helped UCSB take a 10-5 lead
>The Gauchos scored five unanswered until Ellen Veargason stopped the momentum, 15-6
>UCI rallied with a 3-0 run that included a kill and block assist by Onye Ofoegbu and a Gaucho attack error. After an Anteater attack error, UCI scored five more on kills by Kiani Stanton, Ellen Veargason and two Marianna Bertolone, 22-16
>Kills by Veargason and Umeh were followed by a Gaucho attack error, 23-19, but UCSB would score the final two points to win, 25-19

SECOND SET
>UCSB broke open the set early, outscoring UCI 9-1 to lead 10-3. Six of the 10 points were UCI errors
>Two more UCI errors were part of a 3-0 UCSB run, 19-9
>UCSB would score the final five and won 25-11. Anteaters hit -.086 for the set

THIRD SET
>The Gauchos would lead 6-2 with the help of four Anteater errors
>Three kills and an Anteater attack error moved UC Santa Barbara out 14-7
>A kill by Keelan Williams out of the back sparked UCI late starting a 7-2 run to close within 24-20. Bailey Darnell had an ace and Bertolone had a solo block in the spurt
>Deni Wilson would give the Gauchos the win with a kill, 25-20

NOTES
>Negron has posted four consecutive double-doubles


UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head back up the 405 for a clash with CSUN Saturday (Oct. 29). First serve is 5:00 p.m.