UC Irvine's Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss at Utah Valley

Saturday, November 7

Orem, Utah

11:00 AM PT

UC Irvine

9-16,7-7Big West

Utah Valley

9-17,7-7Big West

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UC Irvine	20	25	19	25	10	2
Utah Valley	25	21	25	19	15	3

Box Score (PDF)

Ava Gronemeyer makes contact with the ball on an attack attempt in an NCAA women's volleyball match at Utah Valley.

Photo courtesy of UVU Athletics

November 07, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

OREM, Utah - UC Irvine women's volleyball rebounded from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth set, but was unable to complete the comeback in a 20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 10-15 loss to Utah Valley Saturday afternoon at Lockhart Arena.

The Wolverines (9-17, 7-7 Big West) have now won five of their last seven, and moved into a tie for seventh in the Big West standings alongside UCI (9-16, 7-7 Big West), with the rest of today's conference matches still to be played.

The teams traded scoring runs and alternated set victories throughout the match, but UVU took the momentum down the stretch, accounting for the final four points of the fifth frame to earn the win on its Senior Day.

Freshman middle Taylor Boice led the Anteaters with a team-high 15 kills and seven blocks. Sophomore middle Abby Pekrul also had 10 kills on .444 hitting (10-2-18). Junior opposite Ava Gronemeyer chipped in nine kills.

Senior setter Nicole Feliciano recorded a season-best 34 assists and 17 digs for her 10th double-double of the year. Feliciano added four kills and five blocks to her stat line. Junior libero Whitney Wallace matched Feliciano with 17 digs, while sophomore setter Angelina Dellutri had 11.

As a team, the 'Eaters had more kills (65-56) and digs (71-67), but the Wolverines committed nine fewer hitting errors. The home team also held the advantage in aces (7-3) and blocks (16-10). Miley Thunstrom paced UVU with 15 kills, and Lani Toutai led all players with 23 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Utah Valley went on an early 8-0 run to go up, 10-4, in the opening set. The Wolverines stayed out front until UC Irvine put together its own 10-1 rally that ended with eight-straight points for a 17-14 edge. That lead was short-lived as UVU came right back with four unanswered. The two teams then traded points, but Utah Valley made the final push for the 25-20 victory.

UCI came out firing in set two where it never trailed. The Anteaters raced out to a 9-2 lead on a Boice kill. They maintained a comfortable advantage before the Wolverines used a 6-1 spurt to close the gap to three (19-16). The 'Eaters then got back-to-back kills from Lois Hansen and Jessica Bates, and Feliciano followed with an ace to put the visitors on top, 22-16. UVU came back within three, but UC Irvine held strong with a Bates kill ending it at 25-21.

The Wolverines regrouped after the break as they led wire-to-wire in the third frame. Utah Valley took its largest lead of the match at 21-12. The Anteaters continued to put up a fight with a 7-2 run cutting the deficit to four. Pekrul had four kills during that stretch. UVU then put down back-to-back kills to secure the 25-19 win.

The fourth set was a seesaw battle that saw 10 ties before Boice had a block assist and a kill to give UCI a 12-10 edge. Although the 'Eaters would not relinquish that lead, the Wolverines kept it close as it was still a one-point game at 19-18. UC Irvine then kicked it up a gear, outscoring Utah Valley, 6-1, down the stretch to close out the 25-19 victory.

It continued to be a back-and-forth affair early in the decisive fifth set with Madison Triplett's kill tying it up for the fourth time (7-7). UVU then scored three-straight points and kept the momentum the rest of the way in the 15-10 win.

UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the Bren Events Center to host CSUN (Nov. 13) and Cal State Bakersfield (Nov. 14) in its final homestand of the season. The Anteaters will honor their three seniors - Nicole Feliciano, Lois Hansen, and Kendra MacDonald - following next Saturday's match.

NOTES
• Taylor Boice had her team-leading 12th double-figure kill match.
• Abby Pekrul had 10+ kills in back-to-back matches for the second time this year.
• Whitney Wallace extended her double-digit dig streak to 22-straight matches.
• Nicole Feliciano moved up one spot into a tie for ninth among UCI's all-time career dig leaders.
• The Anteaters have recorded 10 or more total team blocks in six of their last eight outings.
• This was UC Irvine's first loss to Utah Valley as it now leads the short all-time series, 2-1.