IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine used a season-high 16 blocks to topple previously undefeated Portland 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 15-12) at the UCI/adidas Invitational Saturday at Crawford Hall.
 
Middle blocker Soana Leaea had a career-high 12 block assists on one solo and 11 assisted. Her 11 block assists are tied for second most in a match at UCI. She also pounded a career-high nine kills and had five digs.
 
Outside hitter Katie Smith posted a double-double with a career-high 20 kills to go with 12 digs. She also recorded a career-best six block assists.
 
UCI is 3-2 overall while Portland goes to 5-1.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Hunter Riedl has recorded double-figure kills in each match this season with 19 against the Pilots. She contributed five block assists and five digs
>Nicole Feliciano totaled her second double-double of the year with 47 set assists and 14 digs
>Middle blocker Ella Gardiner had six kills and four block assists
>Emma Napoleon provided a spark in the final three sets, tallying a season-high five kills, career-best eight digs and an ace
>Libero Campbell Jensen had a team-high 16 digs
>Sophomore Maia Niemen added a season-high seven digs in the win
>Maui Robbins had 12 kills, 18 digs and two aces to lead Portland. Five Pilots recorded double-digit digs led by Tinoa Woodward-Hart's 19
>UCI out-hit Portland .227-.167
 
FIRST SET
>Soana Leaea started the action with a kill off the slide, 1-0
>Portland would reeled off the next five to take a 5-1 lead
>The Pilots would lead 15-10 at the media timeout before the Anteaters used three consecutive blocks by Ella Gardiner and Nicole Feliciano to close within 14-16
>Portland would then out-score UCI 6-1 to open the set back up 22-15
>The Pilots would win 25-18, hitting .333 to UCI's .143
 
SECOND SET
>Leaea assisted in a pair of blocks to start the set, 2-0
>A 4-1 spurt by Portland which included two blocks moved the Pilots in front 8-7
>Two kills by Feliciano and two by Smith helped UCI to a 12-9 advantage
>A block by Leaea and Smith was followed by a kill from Hunter Riedl to extend the lead to 14-11
>A long scoring delay helped rally Portland who tied the set at 17-17
>UCI answered with a kill by Gardiner and a Portland error but that was short lived as the Pilots scored the next two, 19-19
>A 4-1 run by Portland, all on kills, pushed the Pilots in front 23-22 and forced a UCI timeout
>Tied at 23-23, Portland would record the final two kills, 25-23
 
THIRD SET
>UCI led 6-3 on two Portland errors and a kill by Riedl
>Three straight errors by Portland the last courtesy of a block by Smith and Leaea made it 12-6
>The Anteaters held a 14-11 advantage before Portland had four in a row, including two aces to creep to 14-13
>Emma Napoleon was a spark in the fourth set with a kill and ace to put the Anteaters in front 18-15
>UCI created separation after Leaea would hit it straight down off an overpass followed by two kills by Smith and one by Napoleon, 23-17
>Back-to-back Portland attack errors handed UCI the 25-17 victory
>The Pilots hit .030 in the set

FOURTH SET
>UCI took a slight 7-5 lead on a Smith kill and a Pilot attack error
>A kill by Riedl and a Pilot ball that went wide forced a Portland timeout, 12-7
>After Campbell Jensen momentarily took out the scoreboard power with a diving attempt, UCI added a pair of kills by Riedl, 14-8
>A 6-0 UCI spurt that included three blocks extended the margin to 23-13
>UCI won 25-16 on a Smith kill
>The Anteaters hit .486 with just one error (18-1-35) to force a fifth set

FIFTH SET
>Two Portland errors, the first a block by Riedl and Leaea, moved UCI out to a quick lead, 2-0
>The Pilots would catch UCI at 4-4
>A great serve by Napoleon caused an overpass which Smith promptly dunked, 7-5
>Portland was called in the net before Amanda Leinbach stepped to the service line and fired an ace, 10-6
>Portland rallied with the next three to make it, 10-9
>A great cover dig by Riedl led to a Portland attack error on the other side of the net, 12-9
>Portland made it interesting pulling within 13-12 before Riedl pounded the final two kills, 15-13
>The offense was well-balanced with five players recording kills and the defense was tough recording 16 digs in the set
 
NOTES
>UCI had just two aces, the fewest of the season
>It is the second time this season, UCI has held an advantage in blocks (16-9)
>UCI is now 1-2 in five set matches this season
 
UP NEXT
UCI closes out Invitational action with a 12:00 p.m match against Bradley Sunday at Crawford Hall.