Pekrul Leads Anteaters to 3-1 Win at Bakersfield

Friday, October 16

Bakersfield, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

7-11,5-2Big West

Cal State Bakersfield

8-11,3-4Big West

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Irvine	25	7	26	25	3
CSU Bakersfield	18	25	24	19	1

Box Score (PDF)

Abby Pekrul smiles and gives Nicole Feliciano a high five during an NCAA women's volleyball match.

Photo by: Matt Brown

Pekrul Leads Anteaters to 3-1 Win at Bakersfield

October 16, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's volleyball team bounced back from a tough second set and a lengthy delay in the third to take down Cal State Bakersfield, 25-18, 7-25, 26-24, 25-19, Friday evening at the Icardo Center.

After splitting the first two sets, the Anteaters were up in the third when a scorekeeping delay halted their momentum. The Roadrunners took advantage by turning the tables with an 18-12 lead, but UCI found its footing and quickly went back on top with seven-straight points. It proceeded to go back-and-forth until CSUB made a late push for set point at 24-22. The 'Eaters had an answer once again, scoring the next four to take the 26-24 win. This time, UC Irvine didn't leave any doubt as it never trailed in the fourth and final frame.

Sophomore Abby Pekrul led the way with a career-high 10 kills on .381 hitting. She also had a match-high nine blocks (2 solo, 7 block assists). Fifth-year Kendra MacDonald added a season-best nine kills, while freshman Taylor Boice had seven.

Senior setter Nicole Feliciano produced another impressive all-around performance with 16 assists, eight digs, seven kills, and six blocks. She recorded her 1,000th career dig with her second of the night. Sophomore setter Angelina Dellutri also dished out 20 assists to go along with nine digs and a career-high four aces. Junior libero Whitney Wallace scooped up a match-high tying 18 digs.

Suelen Lima paced the 'Runners with 14 kills, 18 digs, and five blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (7-11, 5-2 Big West) raced out to an 11-4 lead in the first set. The Anteaters stayed out front and went up 17-9 on a double block by Pekrul and Memphis Burnett. The 'Eaters continued to roll as they closed it out at 25-18 on Pekrul's fifth kill.

Cal State Bakersfield (8-11, 3-4 Big West) broke a 4-4 tie in the second with six consecutive points. The Roadrunners were in the driver's seat the rest of the way, cruising to the 25-7 victory.

UCI regrouped at the break, taking an 8-4 advantage after back-to-back kills from Feliciano and MacDonald in the third frame. The 'Runners cut the deficit in half at 9-7 and after a 20-plus minute delay due to technical difficulties with the scorekeeping program, the home team went on an 11-3 run to pull ahead, 18-12. The Anteaters punched back with a 7-0 stretch, capped by a Dellutri ace, for a 19-18 edge. A seesaw battle ensued with three ties before Bakersfield reeled off three-straight to take set point at 24-22. UC Irvine refused to quit as a pair of kills from Boice bookended a 4-0 rally for the 26-24 win.

The 'Eaters remained in control in set four where they went on top, 12-3. Cal State Bakersfield chipped away, closing the gap to three at 17-14, but behind the strong serving of Dellutri, UCI went on a 4-0 spurt to increase its cushion to seven. The Anteaters sided out down the stretch with a MacDonald kill eventually sealing the set and match at 25-19.

UP NEXT: UC Irvine heads to CSUN for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Matadors on Saturday, Oct. 17.

NOTES
• UCI remained in a tie for second in the Big West standings.
• Nicole Feliciano joined head coach Ashlie Hain as the only two Anteaters in program history with 2,000+ assists and 1,000+ digs.
• Whitney Wallace has reached double digits in digs in 15 consecutive matches.
• Fifteen of 17 'Eaters played in tonight's match.
• UC Irvine improved to 11-4 in its all-time series with CSUB.
• UCI has also won five-straight in Bakersfield with their last road loss to the 'Runners coming in 2021.