'Eaters Drop 3-1 Decision to League-Leading Cal Poly

Friday, October 30

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

9-13,7-4Big West

Cal Poly

15-6,11-0Big West

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Cal Poly	25	17	25	25	3
UC Irvine	20	25	20	16	1

Box Score (PDF)

UCI women's volleyball team wearing their pink jerseys huddle up during an NCAA women's volleyball match.

October 30, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's volleyball fell to league-leading Cal Poly, 20-25, 25-17, 20-25, 16-25, Friday evening at the Bren Events Center.

The Mustangs (15-6, 11-0 Big West) extended their win streak to 11 as they remained undefeated in conference play. The Anteaters were right there in the first set before CP broke a 19-19 tie by scoring six of the final seven points. The 'Eaters then dominated the second set, but were unable to come back from a couple Cal Poly runs in the final two frames.

UCI (9-13, 7-4 Big West) was once again relentless on defense, holding the Mustangs to their second-lowest hitting percentage (.242) in Big West action. Four Anteaters reached double figures in digs, led by junior libero Whitney Wallace, who had a match-high 19.

Senior setter Nicole Feliciano and sophomore setter Angelina Dellutri both recorded a double-double. Feliciano had 14 digs and 20 assists to go along with nine kills, while Dellutri had 11 digs and 23 assists. Junior outside Madison Triplett added 10 digs, seven kills, and three solo blocks.

Freshman middle Taylor Boice and redshirt freshman opposite Jessica Bates both tied Feliciano for the team lead in kills with nine apiece. Sophomore Abby Pekrul also had eight kills and four blocks, and senior Lois Hansen chipped in seven kills.

The 'Eaters ended up out-blocking the Mustangs, 10-to-8. Both teams finished with 65 digs. Emma Fredrick led Cal Poly with 17 kills and 15 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The first set went back-and-forth with 13 ties and neither team leading by more than two until Cal Poly made a late run. After a double block by Boice and Feliciano tied it up at 19-all, the Mustangs reeled off five unanswered to take set point. UC Irvine got one back before the visitors closed out the 25-20 victory.

The Anteaters led wire-to-wire in set two, starting with back-to-back kills from Hansen and Triplett. They continued to roll, increasing their cushion to 12-7 to force a Cal Poly timeout. The Mustangs chipped away, cutting the deficit to two, but the 'Eaters responded with a 10-4 run, capped by kills from Hansen and Bates, to seal the 25-17 win.

Cal Poly regrouped at the break, racing out to a 6-3 advantage in the third frame. UCI kept it close and brought it back to a one-point game on a Feliciano ace. After trading points, the Mustangs went on a 7-0 spurt to pull ahead, 18-10. Boice ended the rally with a kill that gave some momentum back to UC Irvine, which used a 9-4 run to make it 22-19. Cal Poly then scored three of the next four points for the 25-20 victory.

The Mustangs created some separation early in the fourth set as they took a 15-8 lead. The Anteaters came right back with a 6-1 stretch that ended with Triplett's third solo block of the night to close the gap to 16-14, but Cal Poly finished strong for the 25-16 win.

UP NEXT: UC Irvine will host UC Santa Barbara in a 5 p.m. Big West showdown on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Anteaters and Gauchos are tied for third in the conference standings.

NOTES
• UC Irvine has recorded 10 or more team blocks in five consecutive matches.
• More than halfway through the conference schedule, the 'Eaters are on their first two-match losing streak against conference opponents.
• Nicole Feliciano has recorded at least a double-double in three-straight outings.
• Feliciano is 21 assists away from moving up to No. 3 among UCI's all-time leaders.
• Whitney Wallace extended her double-digit dig streak to 19 consecutive matches.
• Angelina Dellutri notched her second-straight double-double.