FIRST SERVE
UC Irvine remains on the road this week, traveling to UC San Diego Friday (Oct. 31) at the LionTree Arena then on to Long Beach State Saturday (Nov.1) at the Walter Pyramid. Both matches begin at 6:00 p.m.

STORYLINES
UC Irvine is 9-13 overall and 4-6 in the Big West.

The Anteaters were dominant in a pair of 3-0 wins over Hawaii and Cal State Fullerton last week.

The win over the Rainbow Wahine is the third in a row by the Anteaters, but just the fourth all-time.

Versus Hawaii, UCI hit a season-high .317 (34-8-82) and held UH to -.041 (23-27-97), the lowest percentage by a UCI opponent this season.

Six different players had six or more kills, led by senior Kendra Duffey with a match-high 11 kills, hitting .346 (11-2-26).

Against the Titans, UCI hit .282 (44-13-110), tied for the third highest mark this season, holding CSUF to a .000 hitting mark (20-20-119). The Anteaters held a decisive 69-46 advantage in digs.

UC Irvine had 11 blocks in each match last week.

Outside hitter Kendra Duffey leads the team in kills with a 2.82 average.

FELICIANO AND JENSEN EARN BIG WEST WEEKLY HONORS
Nicole Feliciano and Campbell Jensen were each honored with a Big West weekly award.

Feliciano was named Big West Setter of the Week, while Jensen garnered the Defensive Player of the Week honor.

Along with leading the Anteater offense, Feliciano recorded her ninth double-double of the season against the Titans with 39 set assists and 10 digs to go with three block assists and an ace. For the week, Feliciano averaged 11.0 set assists, 2.83 digs and 0.50 blocks per set.

On the season, Feliciano is eighth in the Big West in set assists with a 6.80 average.

Jensen averaged 5.67 digs over six sets last week, recording 17 digs in each match.

It is Feliciano's third Big West honor, earning Freshman of the Week twice in 2023.

Jensen picked up her second career defensive honor and fifth recognition overall after being named Freshman of the Week three times in 2022.

THE OPPONENTS
UC San Diego is 4-18 overall and 2-8 in the Big West.

The Tritons are riding a seven-match losing streak.

UCI had a season-high 18 blocks, but it wasn't enough as UCSD won the final three sets, 3-1 at the Bren Events Center.

For UCI, Kendra Duffey recorded a team-high 14 kills and a career-high 13 digs to go with five total blocks (1 solo) and two aces. UCSD's Maria Fernanda Afonso led all players with 16 kills.

Long Beach State is 15-6 overall and 8-2 in the Big West.

Last week, The Beach lost to CSUN, 2-3 and survived Cal State Bakersfield, 3-2.

In the first meeting, LBSU won 3-0 registering 10 blocks and 11 aces. Duffey once again led the Anteaters, while Logan King had a match-best 12 kills for The Beach.

UM, UM GOOD
Entering the week, libero Campbell Jensen ranks fourth nationally in career digs among active Division I players and 25th among all players with 1,741.

Jensen ranks third in the UCI record books and is just 15 shy of Devon Sutherland (2005-08) for second (1,756).  All-American Kristin Winkler (2009-12) 2,260 is the all-time leader.56.

She posted 30 digs versus UC Davis, two shy of her career-high. The 30 digs are second most in the Big West this year and tied for 14^th most in the country.

Jensen, who has recorded 20 or more digs five times this season and is second in the Big West with a 4.42 dig average.

AT THE NET
UC Irvine is fourth in the Big West and 46th nationally in blocks with a 2.49 average. They are also 45th in the country in total blocks with 198.0

Middle blocker Sydnee Rowe is second in blocks among Big West players with a 1.20 average. The graduate student is also 11^th in hitting percentage (.270).
 
Rowe, who tied her career-high with eight total blocks versus Hawaii last week, has recorded four or more blocks in 11 of her last 12 outings. The middle blocker tied her career-high with nine kills against the Titans and is averaging 1.31 kills per set overall.

Ally Bolden was impressive last week averaging 3.33 kills, 1.50 blocks and 0.67 digs per set. Versus Hawaii, she hit .615 with eight kills on 13 attempts and no errors plus three total blocks (1 solo) and two digs. Versus the Titans, the middle blocker totaled 12 kills, one shy of her career-high to go with six total blocks (one solo), while hitting .435 (12-2-23). Overall, she is averaging 1.63 kills and 0.96 blocks.

She has recorded at least one block in nine of the last 10 outings.

Opposite Lois Hansen is averaging 0.78 blocks, while outside hitter Kendra Duffey is averaging 0.64 blocks and leads the squad with seven solo blocks.