IRVINE, Calif. – Middle blocker Kiani Stanton had a career night at the net in UC Irvine's 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 25-14, 14-25, 15-8) victory over UC San Diego at the Bren Events Center Tuesday.

Stanton had career-high 13 total blocks on two solos and 11 assisted which is tied for second most in a UCI match. The 13 blocks are the most in The Big West this season. The last time an Anteater had 11 block assists was Makayla Wolfe in 2016 versus Long Beach State.

Two other Anteaters posted career-bests in the win. Libero Campbell Jensen recorded a career-best 22 digs which is tied for 13^th in the Big West this season, while freshman outside hitter Kendra MacDonald put away a career-high nine kills and seven digs.

As a team, UCI racked up 18 blocks, the most in The Big West this season.

UCI improves to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big West, while the Tritons fall to 8-9 on the year and 1-4 in conference action.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>UCI was led by Joy Umeh's 17 kills and four block assists
>Junior Onye Ofoegbu had 11 kills and four total blocks
>Marianna Bertolone matched MacDonald with nine kills along with nine digs
>Setter Indy DeSmet totaled 12 set assists, seven digs and three aces
>UCSD's Ava McInnes topped the Tritons with 13 kills
>The Tritons were held to a .099 hitting percentage (51-34-172)

FIRST SET
>UCSD charged out to a 5-2 lead but it was short lived as UCI tied the set 5-5 on Kendra MacDonald kill
>Three kills, a block and two aces helped the Tritons to a 12-9 advantage
>UC San Diego would lead 15-11 then UCI went to work with two kills each by Kendra MacDonald and Onye Ofoegbu plus an ace by Campbell Jensen to go ahead 16-15
>The teams would be tied at 24-24 when UCSD would have a kill and block by Emily McDaniel to win the set 26-24

SECOND SET
>An ace by Indy DeSmet pushed UCI out to a 4-1 lead
>The Tritons answered with four in a row to move in front 5-4
>The teams would remain within two points of each other and would be tied at 23-23 before UCI used a kill by K. MacDonald and a block by Ofoegbu and Veargason to end the set, 25-23

THIRD SET
>UCI would jump out to an 11-3 lead forcing a Triton timeout
>A block by Bertolone and Stanton was followed by smashes by Stanton and MacDonald, 19-12
>The Anteaters would take the set 25-14 on a UCSD attack error

FOURTH SET
>UCSD would start quickly, 3-0 until back-to-back Anteater blocks, both assisted by K. MacDonald and a kill by Joy Umeh knotted the set, 3-3
>The Tritons would go up 11-6 before UCI reduced the gap on a kill by Bertolone, block by Bertolone and Stanton and an Umeh kill, 9-11
>UCSD would answer with the next six points to regain command, 17-9
>The Tritons would go on to win the set 25-14, scoring the final four points

FIFTH SET
>UCI would lead 5-2 on an ace by Indy DeSmet, a Triton attack error and a kill by Bertolone
>Consecutive kills by Bertolone and Ofoegbu made the advantage 7-4
>UCI controlled the set the rest of the way, 15-8

NOTES
>UCI remains unbeaten against the Tritons (7-0)
>UCI wins its first five set match this season (1-3)
>DeSmet ups her team lead in aces to 12

UP NEXT
>UCI will travel to Hawaii Friday (Oct. 7) for a 10:00 p.m. PT match.