IRVINE, Calif. – No. 6 UC Irvine was in command at the net in a 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-23, 25-16) over No. 12 BYU at the Bren Events Center Wednesday.

The Anteater block was dominate, rejecting a season-high 13, which is tied for 10^th best in the country this season and tied for fourth most in a three-set match. Eight different UCI players recorded at least one block assist in the win, led by freshman Maxim Grigoriev who stuffed a match and career-high seven block assists.

UCI improves to 7-0 overall, sweeping its third consecutive opponent. The Anteaters handed BYU its first loss of the season, 4-1.

HEAD COACH DAVID KNIFFIN SAID:
"I think the story tonight for our block has a lot to do with our guys putting good service pressure on. We had some really good looks and it gives Max a chance to see the hitter with some time to elevate. He made some big time plays tonight. It's been fun to watch Francesco continue to become a complete player with some big stuff blocks.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Opposite Cole Gillis recorded his first attack error in the last two matches, hitting .500 with 10 kills in 18 swings.
>Outside hitter Francesco Sani matched Gillis with a team-high 10 kills. He added three digs and three block assists
>Middle blocker Doug Dahm had a season-high five block assists
>Sophomore Hilir Henno pitched in seven kills, four block assists and tied Joe Karlous with a team-best seven digs
>Karlous also totaled 25 set assists
>The Cougars were led by Kupono Browne and Miks Ramanis' 12 kills
>BYU entered the match ranked second nationally in opponent hitting percentage, but UCI out-hit the Cougars.342-.163
"
FIRST SET
>A kill by Cole Gillis was followed by a BYU attack that flew wide and a block by Maxim Grigoriev and Joe Karlous to give UCI an early 6-4 lead
>A kill by Grigoriev and an ace by Francesco Sani extended the lead to 15-12
>D'Arcy and D. Dahm would take over with back-to-back blocks then following a BYU kill, D'Arcy would put away a kill, 19-14
>A Cougar service error would hand UCI the set, 25-21

SECOND SET
>A blast from Henno, a BYU attack error, and a D. Dahm kill moved the Anteaters out to a quick 3-0 lead
>The Cougars would score three in a row and close to 4-5 before Gillis and Grigoriev locked down the net, 6-4
>A Karlous dump made it 10-7
>A kill and two UCI attack errors, one by a Cougar block tied the score at 10-10
>Following a UCI timeout, Gillis had a pair of kills and a block assist to regain control, 13-10
>Grigoriev and Sani put UCI on top 16-13 only to watch BYU score the next three and tie the set at 16-16
>A kill by Sani was followed by a denial at the net by Grigoriev and Henno and a BYU attack error, 19-16
>The Cougars answered with the next three, the last an ace to tie it again, 19-19
>Back-to-back kills turned the lead to the BYU side, 22-21
>Karlous would feed Gillis for two kills, one from the right and one from the left, 23-22
>The teams would trade points before Sani and Grigoriev denied a Cougar attack at the net, 25-23
>UCI added another five blocks in the set

THIRD SET
>BYU started with a pair of blocks and would lead 5-2
>A kill from Henno out of the back row moved UCI closer 4-5 and a Grigoriev swipe off the block knotted the score at 6-6
>A Sani kill out of the back row on the second touch ignited the crowd, 9-11
>The Anteaters felt the energy, scoring five in a row, including a block by Grigoriev and Sani and an ace by D. Dahm, 17-11
>A kill by Gillis would end the set, 25-16

NOTES
>UCI snapped a four-match losing streak against the Cougars
>UCI has out-blocked all but one opponent this season
 
UP NEXT
The two teams will meet again on Friday (Jan. 27) at 7:00 p.m. at the Bren Events Center