NASHVILLE, Calif. – UC Irvine battled, but ultimately fell in straight sets to Lipscomb (23-25, 17-25, 19-25) in Allen Arena Thursday night.

UCI (4-6) was led by outside hitter Madison Triplett and setter Jessica Bates with eight kills each. Bates also recorded nine set assists, seven digs, two block assists and an ace, while Triplett had nine digs.

Libero Campbell Jensen was once again stellar on defense with a match-high 22 digs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Middle blocker Elizabeth Miller had a career and match-best six block assists
>Outside hitter Lillian Lansing added six kills and a career-high 11 digs
>Opposite Lois Hansen totaled five kills and four block assists
>Setter Nicole Feliciano recorded 15 set assists and seven digs
>Courtney Jones topped Lipscomb with 13 kills. The Bisons go to 4-5 overall
>UCI held a 61-58 advantage in digs, while Lipscomb led in hitting percentage (.244-.109) and a slight lead in blocks (8-7)

FIRST SET
>Lipscomb would hold a 6-2 lead on the strength of four kills
>With the Bison leading 10-6, a Lipscomb service error started a 5-0 Anteater run that included a block by Jessica Bates and Elizabeth Miller, and kills by Bates and Miller to move UCI out to an 11-10 lead
>Three Lipscomb kills and two UCI attack errors put the Bison back in front 17-13
>Campbell Jensen's tough serving once again put Lipscomb out of system, helping the Anteaters tie the set at 20-20. In a 5-1 spurt, UCI used four Lipscomb attack errors and a kill by Madison Triplett
>Lipscomb would score three of the next four to take a 23-21 lead
>Two blocks by Miller keep the Anteaters playing, 23-24 until a Lipscomb kill ended the set 25-23

SECOND SET
>A Lipscomb kill was followed by a UCI attack error and an ace to move the Bison out to a 12-8 lead
>Two kills by Triplett and a Bison attack that went long brought the Anteaters within 12-13
>Lipscomb responded with a 5-1 run, which included three blocks to widen the gap, 19-13
>The Bison would go on to win the set 25-17

THIRD SET
>UCI started with a 7-1 lead on a pair of Bates kills and another by Miller, Lois Hansen and Lillian Lansing
>A kill by Triplett and a block by Hansen and Syndee Rowe made it 10-4
>Lipscomb would out-score UCI 10-4 to tie the set at 14-14
>UCI would hold a 15-14 advantage until Lispcomb rattled off five in a row to take a 19-15 lead
>A kill by Hansen and an ace by Romero tightened the score, 17-19
>Lipscomb would record five of the final six points, three on kills and two UCI errors to win the match, 25-19

NOTES
>It is the third time Jensen has recorded 20 or more digs
>Senior outside hitter Kendra MacDonald would leave the match during the first set with an injury

UP NEXT
>UCI will play Vanderbilt tomorrow (Sept. 19) at 5:00 p.m. PT in Memorial Gymnasium.