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Long Beach State vs UC Irvine
Friday, Sept. 26 | 6:00 PM PT |  Bren Events Center
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UC San Diego vs UC Irvine
Saturday, Sept. 27 | 5:00 PM PT | Bren Events Center
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UC Irvine opens the Big West schedule hosting Long Beach State Friday (Sept. 26) at 6:00 p.m. and UC San Diego Saturday (Sept. 27) at 5:00 p.m. Both matches are at the Bren Events Center.

STORYLINES
UCI went 1-2 last week on a trip to Nashville and are 5-7 overall this season.

The Anteaters opened with losses to Lipscomb (3-0) and Vanderbilt (3-1) before beating Belmont (3-1).

UCI matched their season-high in blocks against the Bruins with 13. Freshman Abby Pekrul, in her second career start, joined Sydnee Rowe and Kendra Duffey (1 solo) with six blocks, a career-high for all three.

UCI recorded 187 digs over the three matches, registering a season-high 69 digs versus the Commodores.

A familiar face will be sitting on the Long Beach State bench this year. Naseri Tumanuvao was on the UCI bench for six years before taking the Long Beach State Associate Head Coach position this season.

Senior outside hitter Kendra MacDonald has been lost for the season with a knee injury suffered at Lipscomb.

BATES HONORED AS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Setter Jessica Bates was honored as The Big West Freshman of the Week, UC Irvine's first weekly award of the season and first career award for the redshirt freshman.

Bates was impressive in the win against Belmont, registering her second triple-double of the season, while hitting .412 (19-5-34). She recorded a career-best 19 kills, 12 digs, four blocks assists and two aces, while dishing a season-high 12 set assists. 

She is the only player in the Big West to record a triple-double this season and is the first league player since 2023 (Carisa Barron, CSUN).  

Versus Lipscomb, Bates shared the team-led in kills with eight and recorded nine set assists, seven digs, two block assists and an ace.

Last week, Bates averaged 3.86 kills, 3.29 set assists, 2.71 digs, 0.86 blocks and 4.71 points per set, while hitting .364 (27-7-55) with three aces.

VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
Long Beach State is 7-4 overall, riding a four-match winning streak.

Last week, The Beach won the UniWyo Invitational, beating host Wyoming (3-2), Portland (3-0) and Idaho State (3-2).

Elise Agi was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week, while Madi Maxwell w3as tabbed Big West Setter of the Week.

UCI beat LBSU 3-2 last year at the Pyramid then lost 1-3 at the Bren.

UC San Diego is 2-10 entering the week, coming off a 3-2 win at neighbor University of San Diego.

The Tritons swept the Anteaters in 2024, winning 3-2 in La Jolla and 3-1 in Irvine.

LANSING STEPS UP
With the injury to MacDonald, freshman Lillian Lansing took full advantage of her opportunity averaging 9.0 kills and 12.67 digs over three matches in Nashville.

She had her first career double-double with a career-best 12 kills and career-high 15 digs against Vanderbilt.

The outside hitter is averaging 1.69 kills and 2.19 digs per set and is the active leader in aces with 10.

DUFFEY AT THE NET OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY
Senior Kendra Duffey was productive offensively and defensively the last two matches. She recorded a career-best five block assists in each of the last two matches and six total blocks against Belmont.

She totaled six kills versus Commodores and eight against the Bruins.

For the season, Duffey is second on the squad with a 2.36 average and tops the team with six solo blocks.

RUNNING A 5-3 OFFENSE
UCI features three talented setters that have all contributed this season. Junior Nicole Feliciano leads the team with a 6.13 average, posting two double-doubles including a season-high19 digs to go with 19 set assists at Vanderbilt.

Bates, who has played in four matches is leading the team averaging 3.29 kills to go with 3.29 assists, 2.43 digs and eight blocks.

Freshman Angelina Dellutri also has two double-doubles this season with a career-best 21 set assists and 10 digs the last time out against Belmont. The setter is averaging 2.75 set assists and 1.50 digs overall. 

SCOOP
Libero Campbell Jensen averaged 4.73 digs and 1.91 set assists over three matches last week.

She started the week with 22 digs versus Lipscomb, her third 20+ dig performance this season.

For the season, Jensen is third in the Big West with a 4.34 average.