PULLMAN, Wash. -- UC Irvine closed out the Cougar Challenge with a 3-1 loss (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16) to Towson Friday afternoon from Bohler Gym.

Several players contributed offensively, but setter Nicole Feliciano was impressive playing all the way around and recording a career-high eight kills to go with a match and career-high 14 digs and 20 set assists, her fourth double-double of the year. She also had two aces.

For her efforts, Feliciano, who is the current Big West Freshman of the Week, was named to the all-tournament team.

Outside hitter Marianna Bertolone matched Feliciano with eight kills plus nine digs and two aces.

MORE NUMBERS
>Outside hitter Hunter Riedl had seven kills and two block assists
>Outside Emma Spindt and middle Ofure Iselen each pitched in five kills
>Defensive specialist Lexi Gruszczynski had a career-high three aces
>Setter Indy De Smet totaled 15 set assists, seven digs and an ace
>Libero Campbell Jensen also had nine digs
>Towson, who improved to 7-3 overall, had three players in double-figure kills led by Nina Cajic with 14
>The Tigers out-blocked UCI 15-5, the most blocks by an opponent this year
>Towson out-hit UCI .308 to .099. The Anteaters are 2-7 on the year

FIRST SET
>Towson got out quickly with a 7-1 lead
>UCI made a move with three in a row on a kill and block assist by Bertolone to narrow the deficit to 9-13 only to watch Towson score the next four and erase the momentum
>In a game of runs, the Anteaters rallied again on a kill by Hunter Riedl an ace from Lexi Gruszczynski, block assist by Riedl and Ofure Iselen and a kill by Iselen (13-17) before the Tigers scored three of their own, to extended it back to 20-13
>Towson would win the set 25-19

SECOND SET
>A Tiger attack error and kill by Bertolone put the Anteaters ahead 2-0, but Towson responded with the next three
>With Towson leading 9-6, UCI used a kill by Nicole Feliciano, a Tiger attack error and an ace by Gruszczynski to tie the set at 9-9
>A 4-1 spurt by Towson gave the Tigers a 14-11 edge
>Three consecutive errors by UCI extended Towson's lead to 20-15
>The Tigers would record the final two points, 25-20

THIRD SET
> Once again, Towson was out early, 5-1
>A kill by Riedl and Ella Gardiner was followed by a Tiger error to help UCI creep to 4-5
> UCI went ahead 10-9 behind a kill and two aces from Feliciano
>A kill by Emma Spindt and a setting error by Towson gave the Anteaters a 12-10 cushion
>UCI out-scored the Tigers 7-1 on the strength of three more Feliciano kills and an ace by Bertolone, 20-13
>Kills by Feliciano, Spindt and OfureIselen moved the Anteater lead to 23-14
>Towson answered with the next six points to make it interesting, 23-20
>Isabella Scarlett took over, ending the set with two kills, the last a smash on an overpass, 25-20

FOURTH SET
>Towson controlled the match from the start, 11-2  
>UCI made a dent with a kill by Riedl, an ace by Indy De Smet and a Tiger attack error, 5-11
> Gruszczynski with another ace, 7-14
>Towson would go on to win 25-16

UP NEXT
UCI returns to California to compete in the Big West/WAC Showdown held at Titan Gym on Cal State Fullerton's campus. The Anteaters start action against Cal Baptist Friday at 2:00 p.m.