FOLLOW THE ANTEATERS
UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine
Friday, Nov. 21 | 6:00 PM PT | Bren Events Center
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Cal Poly at UC Irvine
Saturday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 PM PT | Bren Events Center
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FIRST SERVE
UC Irvine host the final two matches of the regular season, entertaining UC Santa Barbara Friday (Nov. 21) at 6:00 p.m. then Cal Poly Saturday (Nov. 22) at 1:00 p.m.—PLEASE NOTE MATCH TIME is 1:00 p.m. Both matches are at the Bren Events Center.

Following Saturday's match UCI will celebrate its eight graduating student-athletes: Ally Bolden, Kendra Duffey, Campbell Jensen, Kendra MacDonald, Elizabeth Miller, Emma Napoleon, Sydnee Rowe and Keelan Williams.

STORYLINES
UCI is currently in a tie for sixth place in the Big West standings with Hawaii at 7-9.

Hawaii is at home this week, hosting UC San Diego and Long Beach State. CSUN sits two wins ahead at 9-7, traveling to UC Davis and UC Riverside. The top six teams compete for the Big West Championship Nov. 26, 28-29 at The Walter Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State.

 UCI is 12-16 overall after splitting a pair of matches last week. The Anteaters suffered a five-set defeat at CSUN after winning the first two sets then picked up a 3-1 victory at CSU Bakersfield.

UCI had several career-highs versus the Matadors, including Kendra Duffey's personal best 20 kills to lead the Anteaters.

Outside hitter Madison Triplett recorded 21 kills in the win over the Roadrunners. Her 21 kills are the most by an Anteater this season.

BIG WEST'S BEST
Senior Campbell Jensen was honored as Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 5.00 assists last week. It is the sixth career accolade, four for defense and two as Freshman of the Week.

She enters the week ranked fourth nationally in career digs among active Division I players with 1,854. She is 25th among all divisions.

The libero moved into second all-time in UCI digs only trailing All-American Kristin Winkler who had 2,260 from 2009-12.

Jensen has recorded 20 or more digs seven times this season, including a season-best 30 versus UC Davis on Oct. 4.

THE OPPONENTS
UC Santa Barbara is 20-8 overall and 12-4 in the the Big West standings. The Gauchos are battling for positioning, sitting a game behind Long Beach State with two to play. The Beach has just one game versus Hawaii left.

UCSB is riding a three-game winning streak. Last week, the Gauchos beat Cal Poly 3-2 and Hawaii, 3-0.

The last time the Anteaters and Gauchos tangled, UCSB won 3-1 at the Thunderdome. Kendra Duffey led UCI with 13 kills followed by Madison Triplett with 10 kills and 10 digs. UCSB had four players with double-figure kills led by Gabi Martinez' 13. The Gauchos hit .315 to UCI's .165.

Cal Poly sits in second place among Big West teams with the 13-3 record. The Mustangs are 22-6 overall. After falling to UCSB last week in five, Cal Poly swept Hawaii.

In the first meeting, UCI hit just .092 (30-21-98), while Cal Poly had 10 aces to the Anteaters' two. Triplett led the Anteaters with eight kills. She had six digs, an ace and a block assist. Cal Poly was led by Emma Fredrick's match-high nine kills.

Cal Poly (.283) and UCSB (.253) lead the league in hitting percentage. The Gauchos lead the Big West in blocks (2.65) and are second in kills (13.61). The Mustangs are third in kills with a 13.25 average.

AMONG THE BIG WEST LEADERS
Libero Campbell Jensen leads the Big West in digs with a 4.62 average, while middle blocker Sydnee Rowe is second in blocks (1.25) and sixth in hitting percentage with a .310 mark.

Senior Kendra Duffey leads the team and ranks 12^th in kills (2.98) and 11th in points (3.47). Junior Nicole Feliciano is seventh in set assists at 7.60 and 18th digs with a 2.47 mark. Madison Triplett is also ranked in digs at 14^th with a 2.51 average.

Emma Napoleon has made an impact from the service line averaging 0.28 per set which is eighth among Big West players.

As a team, UCI ranks fourth best in blocks with a 2.40 average. The Anteaters have out-blocked opponents 12 times this year.