Saturday, August 29
Seattle, Wash.
4:00 PM
UC Irvine
0-2,0-0Big West
0
vs
3
IU Indy
1-1,0-0Horizon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 23 | 21 | 26 | 0 |
| IU Indy | 25 | 25 | 28 | 3 |
Photo by: Jamie Mitchell
UCI's Comeback Falls Short in Loss to IU Indy
August 29, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
SEATTLE - Down two sets to none and trailing by 10 in the third, the UC Irvine women's volleyball team never gave up. The Anteaters erased that 10-point deficit, but were unable to extend the comeback in a 23-25, 21-25, 26-28 loss to IU Indy Saturday at Alaska Airlines Arena.
The Jaguars (1-1) scored the first seven points of the third frame. It looked like they were going to run away with the match when they pulled ahead, 16-6, but the 'Eaters continued to battle, starting with an 8-2 rally to cut the deficit to 18-14.
After the Jags went back up by six, a Madison Triplett kill started a furious 6-0 scoring run that tied it up at 20. IU Indy stormed back to take match point at 24-20, but UCI responded once again, reeling off five-straight points to turn the tables for a 25-24 lead. The Jags stayed alive and after two more ties, they eventually put away back-to-back kills to seal the win.
BY THE NUMBERS: For the second night in a row, junior Madison Triplett led the Anteaters with nine kills, four of which came in the third set. Freshman Taylor Boice added six kills (.333), three blocks and two aces, while sophomore Abby Pekrul recorded five kills and four blocks.
Freshman Tata Vongfak had her second double-digit dig effort in as many outings with a match-high tying 10. Sophomore Angelina Dellutri was just shy of a double-double with nine assists and eight digs.
IU Indy finished with more kills (41-25), digs (41-37), and aces (6-4), but committed 17 service errors. UCI also held an 8-to-7 advantage in blocks. Bailey Sinish paced the Jags with a match-high 12 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (0-2) raced out to a 6-2 lead behind three early kills from Boice and an ace by Kaia Ciszewski. IU Indy cut its deficit in half before a 5-1 rally, capped by a Pekrul and Triplett double block, put the Anteaters on top, 11-5. After calling a timeout, the Jaguars started to chip away and eventually tied it up at 19-all. They continued to roll after an 'Eater timeout, extending their scoring run to 5-0 for a 22-19 advantage. UCI then reeled off three straight points, pulling back even on a solo block by Memphis Burnett, but the Jags held on down the stretch for the 25-23 win in set one.
The second set was tightly-contested with six ties and neither team leading by more than four. UC Irvine was in control early, using a 4-0 spurt that included two kills from Jessica Bates and a Pekrul/Burnett block to go up, 13-9. IU Indy came right back to knot the score at 13. Four more ties would follow before the Jags broke a 20-20 deadlock with back-to-back kills. Pekrul answered with a kill of her own, but the Jaguars scored the final three points for the 25-21 victory.
IU Indy carried that momentum into the third frame where they took a 7-0 lead, forcing UCI to burn an early timeout. The Jaguars continued to roll, going up 16-6. The Anteaters then dug deep for a 14-4 run that ended with a Boice and Nicole Feliciano double block to tie it up at 20. The Jags regrouped, taking match point at 24-20, but the 'Eaters continued to fight, scoring five-straight for a 25-24 lead on a Triplett kill. IU Indy stayed alive and went back on top, 26-25, before a kill from Boice brought the teams even once again. This time, the Jags closed it out with kills from Sinish and Jillian Tippman giving them the 28-26 win.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine closes out the Husky Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 30, when it takes on San Diego State at 12 p.m.
NOTES
• This was the first meeting between UC Irvine and IU Indy.
• Through the first two matches of the season, middles Abby Pekrul and Taylor Boice lead the Anteaters with seven blocks each (1.00/set).
• Outside hitter Madison Triplett, who was UCI's kill leader last year, is tops on the squad with 2.57 per set.
• Libero Tata Vongfak has racked up a team-best 26 digs (3.71/set).
• The 'Eaters have started three freshmen in each of their first two matches.
The Jaguars (1-1) scored the first seven points of the third frame. It looked like they were going to run away with the match when they pulled ahead, 16-6, but the 'Eaters continued to battle, starting with an 8-2 rally to cut the deficit to 18-14.
After the Jags went back up by six, a Madison Triplett kill started a furious 6-0 scoring run that tied it up at 20. IU Indy stormed back to take match point at 24-20, but UCI responded once again, reeling off five-straight points to turn the tables for a 25-24 lead. The Jags stayed alive and after two more ties, they eventually put away back-to-back kills to seal the win.
BY THE NUMBERS: For the second night in a row, junior Madison Triplett led the Anteaters with nine kills, four of which came in the third set. Freshman Taylor Boice added six kills (.333), three blocks and two aces, while sophomore Abby Pekrul recorded five kills and four blocks.
Freshman Tata Vongfak had her second double-digit dig effort in as many outings with a match-high tying 10. Sophomore Angelina Dellutri was just shy of a double-double with nine assists and eight digs.
IU Indy finished with more kills (41-25), digs (41-37), and aces (6-4), but committed 17 service errors. UCI also held an 8-to-7 advantage in blocks. Bailey Sinish paced the Jags with a match-high 12 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (0-2) raced out to a 6-2 lead behind three early kills from Boice and an ace by Kaia Ciszewski. IU Indy cut its deficit in half before a 5-1 rally, capped by a Pekrul and Triplett double block, put the Anteaters on top, 11-5. After calling a timeout, the Jaguars started to chip away and eventually tied it up at 19-all. They continued to roll after an 'Eater timeout, extending their scoring run to 5-0 for a 22-19 advantage. UCI then reeled off three straight points, pulling back even on a solo block by Memphis Burnett, but the Jags held on down the stretch for the 25-23 win in set one.
The second set was tightly-contested with six ties and neither team leading by more than four. UC Irvine was in control early, using a 4-0 spurt that included two kills from Jessica Bates and a Pekrul/Burnett block to go up, 13-9. IU Indy came right back to knot the score at 13. Four more ties would follow before the Jags broke a 20-20 deadlock with back-to-back kills. Pekrul answered with a kill of her own, but the Jaguars scored the final three points for the 25-21 victory.
IU Indy carried that momentum into the third frame where they took a 7-0 lead, forcing UCI to burn an early timeout. The Jaguars continued to roll, going up 16-6. The Anteaters then dug deep for a 14-4 run that ended with a Boice and Nicole Feliciano double block to tie it up at 20. The Jags regrouped, taking match point at 24-20, but the 'Eaters continued to fight, scoring five-straight for a 25-24 lead on a Triplett kill. IU Indy stayed alive and went back on top, 26-25, before a kill from Boice brought the teams even once again. This time, the Jags closed it out with kills from Sinish and Jillian Tippman giving them the 28-26 win.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine closes out the Husky Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 30, when it takes on San Diego State at 12 p.m.
NOTES
• This was the first meeting between UC Irvine and IU Indy.
• Through the first two matches of the season, middles Abby Pekrul and Taylor Boice lead the Anteaters with seven blocks each (1.00/set).
• Outside hitter Madison Triplett, who was UCI's kill leader last year, is tops on the squad with 2.57 per set.
• Libero Tata Vongfak has racked up a team-best 26 digs (3.71/set).
• The 'Eaters have started three freshmen in each of their first two matches.
Players Mentioned
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Irvine
IUIndy
Kills
25
41
Errors
22
24
Attempts
92
104
Hitting %
.033
.163
Points
37.0
54.0
Assists
19
31
Aces
4
6
Blocks
8
7
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Friday, August 28
Wednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25
Thursday, August 20
