Friday, September 11
Irvine, Calif.
6:00 PM
UC Irvine
1-6,0-0Big West
2
vs
3
LMU
6-1,0-0WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMU (CA) | 18 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| UC Irvine | 25 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 8 | 2 |
UCI's Early Lead Slips Away in Five-Set Loss to LMU
September 11, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's volleyball team was in the driver's seat after winning the first two sets handily, but LMU battled its way back to a reverse sweep Friday evening at the Bren Events Center. The Lions won the match by set scores of 18-25, 13-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-8.
The Anteaters were dominant early, combining to hit .364, while holding LMU to a .075 clip through sets one and two. Freshman middle Taylor Boice led the way at the net with six kills (.500), five blocks, and two aces, while freshman outside Memphis Burnett was unstoppable in the second frame where she had five kills on .714 hitting (5-0-7).
Both teams dipped into the negative in the third, but the Lions (6-1) did just enough to stay alive. They then found their rhythm, hitting .423 in the fourth and .267 in the fifth.
BY THE NUMBERS: Boice paced the 'Eaters with a match-high 17 kills (.500) to go along with six blocks and three aces. It was her fourth-straight double-figure kill match.
Burnett registered a season-high 10 kills (.318), while redshirt freshman Brianna Brewer chipped in nine.
Setters Nicole Feliciano and Angelina Dellutri totaled 27 and 25 assists, respectively. Feliciano added nine kills and six digs. Junior libero Whitney Wallace also notched a team-best 11 digs.
UC Irvine finished the match with a .177 attack percentage, which was slightly better than LMU at .124. The Anteaters also won the battle in kills, 60-42, but were outblocked, 13-9. Both teams racked up 48 digs and seven aces.
Nicole Schuetz led the Lions with 15 kills and 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (1-6) pulled away late to win the opening set. It started as a back-and-forth affair with nine ties and neither side leading by more than three until the Anteaters caught fire. After LMU went up 16-15, UCI reeled off eight unanswered points for a commanding 23-16 lead. Boice sparked the rally with three kills and a block. The Lions sided out to end the run, but a service error and a hitting error gave the 'Eaters the 25-18 victory.
UC Irvine kept the momentum in the second frame, scoring the first four points before going up 6-1 on a Dellutri kill. The Anteaters stayed out front and used a 7-0 run, capped by a kill from Brewer, to pull ahead, 22-10. UCI continued to roll with a Burnett kill sealing the 25-13 win.
Set three was a tightly-contested battle with eight ties and three lead changes. The Lions held the early edge, but the 'Eaters kept it close and eventually took their first lead of the set at 18-17. LMU then created some separation with a 5-0 spurt and held on for the 25-22 win.
UC Irvine came out strong in the fourth, taking a 5-1 advantage following back-to-back kills from Boice and Burnett. The Lions responded with an 11-4 rally to go on top, 12-9. Freshman Vani Tatoulian then started a 4-1 run with a couple kills to help UCI pull back even at 13-all, but LMU finished strong for the 25-19 victory.
The Lions took an early 6-2 lead in the decisive set, but the Anteaters scored four-straight out of a timeout to make it 6-6. LMU punched right back with four unanswered out of a timeout of its own. The stretch started with a successful challenge as a dig by Dellutri landed on the Lions' side and was initially called in before being overturned after review. That provided the boost that LMU needed as the visitors ran away with the 15-8 win.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the Bren Events Center tomorrow (Sept. 12) to take on Utah Tech at 1 p.m.
NOTES
• Taylor Boice has hit .500 or better in three of her last four outings.
• For the season, Boice leads the team in kills (2.74/set) and hitting percentage (.404).
• Whitney Wallace recorded her fourth-straight double-digit dig match.
• UCI started five true and redshirt freshmen (including libero).
• This was the first meeting between UC Irvine and LMU since 2012.
The Anteaters were dominant early, combining to hit .364, while holding LMU to a .075 clip through sets one and two. Freshman middle Taylor Boice led the way at the net with six kills (.500), five blocks, and two aces, while freshman outside Memphis Burnett was unstoppable in the second frame where she had five kills on .714 hitting (5-0-7).
Both teams dipped into the negative in the third, but the Lions (6-1) did just enough to stay alive. They then found their rhythm, hitting .423 in the fourth and .267 in the fifth.
BY THE NUMBERS: Boice paced the 'Eaters with a match-high 17 kills (.500) to go along with six blocks and three aces. It was her fourth-straight double-figure kill match.
Burnett registered a season-high 10 kills (.318), while redshirt freshman Brianna Brewer chipped in nine.
Setters Nicole Feliciano and Angelina Dellutri totaled 27 and 25 assists, respectively. Feliciano added nine kills and six digs. Junior libero Whitney Wallace also notched a team-best 11 digs.
UC Irvine finished the match with a .177 attack percentage, which was slightly better than LMU at .124. The Anteaters also won the battle in kills, 60-42, but were outblocked, 13-9. Both teams racked up 48 digs and seven aces.
Nicole Schuetz led the Lions with 15 kills and 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (1-6) pulled away late to win the opening set. It started as a back-and-forth affair with nine ties and neither side leading by more than three until the Anteaters caught fire. After LMU went up 16-15, UCI reeled off eight unanswered points for a commanding 23-16 lead. Boice sparked the rally with three kills and a block. The Lions sided out to end the run, but a service error and a hitting error gave the 'Eaters the 25-18 victory.
UC Irvine kept the momentum in the second frame, scoring the first four points before going up 6-1 on a Dellutri kill. The Anteaters stayed out front and used a 7-0 run, capped by a kill from Brewer, to pull ahead, 22-10. UCI continued to roll with a Burnett kill sealing the 25-13 win.
Set three was a tightly-contested battle with eight ties and three lead changes. The Lions held the early edge, but the 'Eaters kept it close and eventually took their first lead of the set at 18-17. LMU then created some separation with a 5-0 spurt and held on for the 25-22 win.
UC Irvine came out strong in the fourth, taking a 5-1 advantage following back-to-back kills from Boice and Burnett. The Lions responded with an 11-4 rally to go on top, 12-9. Freshman Vani Tatoulian then started a 4-1 run with a couple kills to help UCI pull back even at 13-all, but LMU finished strong for the 25-19 victory.
The Lions took an early 6-2 lead in the decisive set, but the Anteaters scored four-straight out of a timeout to make it 6-6. LMU punched right back with four unanswered out of a timeout of its own. The stretch started with a successful challenge as a dig by Dellutri landed on the Lions' side and was initially called in before being overturned after review. That provided the boost that LMU needed as the visitors ran away with the 15-8 win.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine returns to the Bren Events Center tomorrow (Sept. 12) to take on Utah Tech at 1 p.m.
NOTES
• Taylor Boice has hit .500 or better in three of her last four outings.
• For the season, Boice leads the team in kills (2.74/set) and hitting percentage (.404).
• Whitney Wallace recorded her fourth-straight double-digit dig match.
• UCI started five true and redshirt freshmen (including libero).
• This was the first meeting between UC Irvine and LMU since 2012.
Players Mentioned
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
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
LMU
Irvine
Kills
42
60
Errors
26
32
Attempts
129
158
Hitting %
.124
.177
Points
61.5
76.0
Assists
38
54
Aces
7
7
Blocks
12.5
9
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
3
Blocks
6
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
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