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UCI/ADIDAS INVITATIONAL
Idaho State vs UC irvine
Friday, Sept. 6 | 7:00 PM | Crawford Hall
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Portland vs UC Irvine
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 1:30 PM | Crawford Hall
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Bradley vs UC Irvine
Sunday, Sept. 8 | 12:00 PM | Crawford Hall
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FIRST SERVE
The Anteaters will host the annual UCI/adidas Invitational Thurs.-Sun. (Sept. 5-8) at Crawford Hall.

UCI will take on Idaho State in the home opener Friday at 7:00 p.m. followed by Portland on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Bradley Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

All matches are in Crawford Hall with limited capacity. UCI facilities have a clear bag policy and mobile tickets are required.

Complete Invitational Schedule:
Sept. 5 Idaho State vs Portland         6:00 p.m.
Sept. 6 Portland vs Bradley               3:00 p.m.
            Idaho State vs UC Irvine        7:00 p.m.
Sept. 7 Bradley vs Idaho State          10:00 a.m.
            Portland vs UC Irvine            1:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 Bradley vs UC Irvine              12:00 p.m.

STORYLINES
UCI started the season as co-champions of the Lobo Invitational, finishing 2-1 overall.

The Anteaters topped North Dakota 3-1 to start the tournament followed by a five-set loss to Tulane. UCI ended with a 3-0 sweep of host New Mexico.

Hunter Riedl, Katie Smith and Nicole Feliciano were all-tournament selections.

Smith leads the Big West in ace average with a 0.75 mark, firing nine in 12 sets.

UCI had 86 digs and 10 aces versus Tulane which are second most in each category in the Big West this season.

The Anteaters are ranked second in the Big West in aces (1.83) and are third in kills (13.17), assists (12.27) and blocks (2.67).

Idaho State went 2-1 at their home tournament, falling to San Diego State (3-0) before beating Seattle U (3-1) and CSUN (3-1). The Bengals beat the Matadors on the strength of 25 team blocks, the fourth most in ISU history, and the most team blocks in the rally-scoring era. Jamie Streit was named Tournament MVP, while Meline Robarge was an all-tournament selection.

Portland is the only undefeated team in the Invitational field at 3-0 overall after defeating Stetson (3-0), Bethune-Cookman (3-2) and Manhattan (3-1) at the Bethune-Cookman Bash at the Beach last week.

Bradley enters 1-2 overall. starting with a sweep over St. Thomas at their home CEFCU Invitational before losing to Southern Indiana (0-3) and DePaul (2-3).

VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
UCI has won all three previous meetings with the Idaho State dating back to 1983. The two teams last met in 2013 at a neutral site in Utah with the Anteaters beating the Bengals 3-1.
 
The Anteaters top the Pilots, 3-1 in the series records. The last meeting was in 2011 at the Aztec Invitational with UCI sweeping Portland. The Anteaters have won nine straight sets against Portland.

This is the first meeting with Bradley.

RIEDL LEADS ANTEATERS
Graduate student Hunter Riedl led UCI in each match last weekend, totaling double figures in each outing.

She is sixth in the Big West in kills with a 3.50 average and fifth in points at 4.21. She posted a career-high five blocks assists in the win over the Lobos.

SMITH MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT
USC transfer Katie Smith has made an immediate impact on the Anteater squad. She leads the Big West in aces with a 0.75 average. She had a career-best four aces in back-to-back matches against Tulane and New Mexico.

The outside hitter is second on the team, averaging 2.42 kills and owns a 2.50 digs per set average.

DOWN THE MIDDLE
Middle blockers Ofure Iselen and Ella Gardiner were impressive to start to the season.

Iselen is second in blocking (1.40) and fifth in hitting percentage (.387) among Big West players. She had a career-high eight block assists versus UNM which is tops in the Big West. She is also averaging 1.50 kills per set.

Gardiner, who graduated in June but returned for graduate school, is third in blocks (1.25) and seventh in hitting percentage (.355) in the Big West. In the season opener she had a career-high seven total blocks.

FELICIANO PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
The 2023 Big West Freshman of the Year Nicole Feliciano earned Lobo Invitational all-tournament honors after averaging 7.08 set assists, 3.08 digs and 1.08 kills. over three matches last week.

UP NEXT
UCI will head to the Buffs Invitational to face host Colorado, Wyoming and Cal.