IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine came from behind in the final two sets, including scoring the last seven points in the fourth set to clinch a 3-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara (21-25, 25-13, 23-25, 25-21) at the Bren Events Center Saturday.
 
After trailing 17-22, UCI won the third set on an 8-1 run on the strength of three kills by Katie Smith.

In the final frame, the Gauchos would record a block to take a 21-18 lead, only to watch the gritty Anteaters use two kills by Smith and two by Hunter Riedl, a UCSB setting error and the final two points on blocks, one by Ofure Iselen and Riedl and the match-winner a solo by Iselen.
 
The UCI defense was the key to the match, as the Anteaters totaled 86 digs, which is tied for the team-best in 2024 and is the most by a Big West team in four sets this year. Nicole Feliciano and Campbell Jensen topped the team with 20 digs apiece.

After not recording a block in the first set, UCI, the Big West leader, went on to record 14 for the match led by Iselen with nine total blocks which is tied for third most in a four-set match in the Big West and seventh most overall. She had eight block assists, which ties her career-high.  
 
UCI improves to 10-7 overall and 4-2 in the Big West, while UCSB falls to 7-11 on the year and 3-3 in the Big West.
 
HEAD COACH ASHLIE HAIN SAID:
"Proud of our come-from-behind victory tonight. We had some people show great leadership and fight. There's a lot to work though heading into next week."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Outside hitter Katie Smith led the team in kills with 17 to go with three aces, 10 digs and four block assists
>Opposite Hunter Riedl added 12 kills, five digs and three block assists
>Setter Nicole Feliciano recorded her ninth double-double, totaling 29 set assists and 20 digs with four block assists
>Middle blocker Ella Gardiner and outside hitter Kendra MacDonald each tallied seven kills with Gardiner posting five block assists and MacDonald recording six digs and two block assists
>For the second consecutive night, Maia Niemen bettered her career-high with 10 digs
>UCSB was led by Sophie Reavis' 12 kills, 17 digs and five total blocks  
>Neither team was good offensively with UCI out-hitting the Gauchos .169-.098
>UC Santa Barbara had six aces to UCI's four and held the 14.5-14 advantage at the net
 
FIRST SET
>UCI took the first lead on kills by Katie Smith, Ofure Iselen and an ace by Smith, 4-1
>The Gauchos would chip away and take the 9-7 lead on a block, ace and kill
>The Anteaters used kills by Emma Napoleon and Katie Smith plus a Gaucho attack error to knot the score at 12-12
>The teams remained close until UCSB used three kills and a pair of service aces to take control 24-19
>The Anteaters would record two points to keep it interesting until Emma McDermott ended the set with a kill, 25-21
>UCI hit .100 and was out-blocked 6.5-0

SECOND SET
>Hunter Riedl had a kill then teamed up with Ofure Iselen for a block, 2-0
>A 4-1 run by UCI that included two kills and a block assist by Ella Gardiner moved the Anteater lead to 7-4
>Consecutive kills by Smith upped the advantage to 9-5
>UCI broke open the set on an 8-1 run that was started by a block and featured two aces by Smith and two kills by Riedl
>Back-to-back blocks by Gardiner, one with Nicole Feliciano and one with Smith, gave UCI a 23-11 lead
>A great dig by Maia Niemen to keep the play alive was followed by a kill by Kendra MacDonald out of the back row for the set-winner 25-13
>UCI's block came alive recording six in the set
 
THIRD SET
>UCSB jumped out to the quick 3-0 lead then expanded the margin to 10-3 on a block
>The Anteaters wouldn't go away, scoring five in a row featuring a kill and two block assists by MacDonald to close within 13-17
>A block by Gardiner and Feliciano would put UCI at 17-20 before the Gauchos answered with the next two
>A block in the middle by Gardiner and Smith helped the Anteaters creep to 20-22
>A Gaucho attack sailed wide then Smith set the ball over to an empty front corner on a broken play to force a UCSB timeout, 22-23
>Iselen then found the same corner and while the first dig was up, UCSB sent the ball over, but out of bounds to tie the score 23-23
>Indy DeSmet had a dig on a hard hit ball that was tracked down by Amanda Leinbach and rolled over by Smith, 24-23
>What appeared to be a UCSB kill was ruled a back row attacking error after the play ended, giving UCI the point and the 25-23 victory
>UCI had five more blocks in the comeback

FOURTH SET
>Four consecutive kills by UC Santa Barbara helped the Gauchos to a 5-1 lead
>A Gaucho service error and kills by Gardiner and MacDonald got the Anteaters back into the set, 4-5
>Another three straight points for UCI, two UCSB attack errors tied the set at 8-8
>A kill by MacDonald and another UCSB attack error gave UCI its first lead 10-9
>A block by Iselen and Feliciano was followed by a Feliciano ace, 12-10
>A UC Santa Barbara ace would knot the score at 13 all then a tip in the opposite corner than UCI's favorite spot moved the Gauchos back in front 14-13
>A UCI service error started a 4-0 run for UCSB, putting the Gauchos seemingly in control 20-17
>With Feliciano at the service line, a Riedl smash was followed by a Riedl roll shot and a Gaucho setting error giving UCI the 22-21 lead  
>Following a UCSB timeout, a long rally was ended by a kill from Smith
>The final two points came on a block from Iselen and Riedl then a solo block in the middle from Iselen

NOTES
>Iselen and Emma Napoleon pitched in three kills each
>The Anteaters' .169 hitting percentage was the fifth-lowest this season
>Smith leads the Anteaters with 29 aces

UP NEXT
UCI will travel up the 405 to Black & Blue rival Long Beach State next Friday (Oct. 18) at 7:00 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.