Irvine, Calif. – After winning the first set 28-26, UC Irvine watched Stephen F. Austin go on late runs to win each of the last three sets for a 3-1 victory (25-22, 25-23, 25-22) in the second match of the SMU Invitational at Moody Coliseum.

The Anteaters (0-2) out-hit (.224-.207), out-dug (71-57) and out-blocked (11-9) the Ladyjacks. SFA (1-1) held the advantage in aces 7-3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Junior Joy Umeh led all players with a season-high 21 kills and three total blocks
>Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu had another impressive match with 15 kills, five digs and six total blocks
>Libero Campbell Jensen posted a match-high 21 digs
>Sophomore outside hitter Marianna Bertolone recorded the first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs
>Opposite Ellen Veargason added six kills and four digs
>SFA was led by Ielan Bradley with 17 kills and five blocks

FIRST SET
>A 4-1 run by SFA put the Ladyjacks in front 12-9
>UCI would rally on 5-1 run of their own, which included three kills by Joy Umeh to move in front 14-13
>Two kills and an ace by Onye Ofoegbu plus a kill by Marianna Bertolone extended the lead to 18-15
>UCI would hold a 23-21 lead before SFA battled back to knot the set at 24-24
>Two in a row by Stephen F. Austin gave them set point, 26-25, but a kill by Ellen Veargason kept the game going
>Back-to-back blocks, both assisted by Kiani Stanton gave UCI the 28-26 win

SECOND SET
>Starting at 8-8, the teams battled point-by-point until UCI had consecutive kills by Umeh to take a 19-17 advantage
>The lead was short-lived as SFA scored the next six to move in front, 23-19
>Emma Spindt put away two kills followed by another from Bertolone to hold off set point, 22-24
>Following a Ladyjack timeout, Ielan Bradley recorded the set-winner, 25-22

THIRD SET
>Three straight Ladyjack errors, the last two courtesy of blocks by Onye Ofeogbu and Ellen Veargason,helped UCI to a 7-4 lead
>SFA would tie the set at 8 all only to watch the Anteaters score four of the next five points to take a 12-9 lead. UCI had kills by Ofoegbu, Bertolone and Umeh in the run
>SFA battled back to tie the score at 13-13 before UCI ignited for four straight points, the last a solo block by Umeh for a 17-13 lead
>The Ladyjacks would stormed back with four unanswered points to take a 23-21 lead and go on to win 25-23

FOURTH SET
>Three kills and a block assist by Ofoegbu moved UCI in front 18-16
>Another kill by Ofoegbu and a SFA error gave UCI the 20-17 advantage
>With UCI leading 22-20, the Ladyjacks would turn the tables and score five of the last six points to take the set 25-23 and the match 3-1

NOTES
>UCI used three setters during the match. Senior Kelly Negron totaled 25 set assists and eight digs, sophomore Indy DeSmet had 16 set assists, eight digs and two aces, while freshman Audrey Tucker added nine assists and a dig
>Middle blocker Kiani Stanton put away three kills and had four block assists  

UP NEXT
After getting some rest, UCI will take on DePaul tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. PT to close out the tournament action.