Saturday, September 12
Irvine, Calif.
1:00 PM
UC Irvine
1-7,0-0Big West
0
vs
3
Utah Tech
5-3,0-0Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Tech | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| UC Irvine | 20 | 22 | 21 | 0 |
Photo by: Jillian Leslie | UC Irvine Athletics
'Eaters Drop Defensive Battle to Utah Tech
September 12, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's volleyball dropped a defensive battle to Utah Tech, 3-0 (20-25, 22-25, 21-25), Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center.
The two teams combined for 148 digs and 21 total team blocks. Each side had three players reach double digits in digs with the Anteaters holding a 77-71 advantage. The Trailblazers (5-3), who earned their third sweep of the season, won the battle at the net with 15 blocks to UCI's six.
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Whitney Wallace recorded her second 20-dig performance of the season, finishing with a match-high 22. Senior Nicole Feliciano and sophomore Angelina Dellutri both notched a double-double in assists and digs. Feliciano finished with 18 assists and 15 digs, while Dellutri had 15 assists and 11 digs. Their dig totals were season bests.
Junior Madison Triplett and freshman Taylor Boice paced the 'Eaters offensively with eight kills each. Triplett also had eight digs and Boice had three blocks.
Redshirt freshmen Brianna Brewer and Jessica Bates added seven and six kills, respectively. Freshman Vani Tatoulian contributed five kills and three blocks.
Sydney Reese led UT with 12 kills. Tehanie Waters also had 18 digs and 14 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (1-7) scored the first three points of the opening set with a Triplett kill, a Utah Tech hitting error, and an ace from Wallace. The Trailblazers answered with a 7-3 spurt for a one-point edge. After UCI sided out on a Feliciano kill, UT made another push, going up, 12-8. The Anteaters cut the deficit to one following kills by Tatoulian, Bates, and Memphis Burnett, but Utah Tech would not relinquish the lead and pulled away down the stretch for the 25-20 win.
The two teams traded points to start set two. The 'Eaters made the first move as they went on top, 8-6, after back-to-back kills from Triplett. UCI stayed out front, going up by three before the Trailblazers turned the tables with an 8-1 run giving them a 19-15 cushion. UC Irvine came right back to tie it up at 19-all on a Boice kill, but UT dug deep for the 25-22 victory.
Utah Tech kept the momentum, taking a 7-4 advantage in the third frame. The Anteaters remained within striking distance and trailed by one (8-7) before the Trailblazers scored four unanswered and continued to roll to an 18-11 lead. UT held onto the comfortable margin until the 'Eaters rallied with an 8-4 run making it a three-point game at 24-21. Utah Tech then put down the match-winning kill.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine wraps up the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 13, when it welcomes San José State to the Bren Events Center for a 12 p.m. showdown.
NOTES
• Whitney Wallace has both of UCI's 20+ dig performances in 2026.
• Her 22 digs today were the most by a Big West player in a three-set match this season.
• Wallace has reached double digits in digs in five consecutive matches.
• Angelina Dellutri had her second consecutive double-double.
• Nicole Feliciano recorded her 45th career double-double.
• Taylor Boice has registered at least one solo block in three consecutive outings.
• Boice leads the team in kills (2.73/set), blocks (0.97/set), and hitting percentage (.364).
The two teams combined for 148 digs and 21 total team blocks. Each side had three players reach double digits in digs with the Anteaters holding a 77-71 advantage. The Trailblazers (5-3), who earned their third sweep of the season, won the battle at the net with 15 blocks to UCI's six.
BY THE NUMBERS: Junior Whitney Wallace recorded her second 20-dig performance of the season, finishing with a match-high 22. Senior Nicole Feliciano and sophomore Angelina Dellutri both notched a double-double in assists and digs. Feliciano finished with 18 assists and 15 digs, while Dellutri had 15 assists and 11 digs. Their dig totals were season bests.
Junior Madison Triplett and freshman Taylor Boice paced the 'Eaters offensively with eight kills each. Triplett also had eight digs and Boice had three blocks.
Redshirt freshmen Brianna Brewer and Jessica Bates added seven and six kills, respectively. Freshman Vani Tatoulian contributed five kills and three blocks.
Sydney Reese led UT with 12 kills. Tehanie Waters also had 18 digs and 14 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (1-7) scored the first three points of the opening set with a Triplett kill, a Utah Tech hitting error, and an ace from Wallace. The Trailblazers answered with a 7-3 spurt for a one-point edge. After UCI sided out on a Feliciano kill, UT made another push, going up, 12-8. The Anteaters cut the deficit to one following kills by Tatoulian, Bates, and Memphis Burnett, but Utah Tech would not relinquish the lead and pulled away down the stretch for the 25-20 win.
The two teams traded points to start set two. The 'Eaters made the first move as they went on top, 8-6, after back-to-back kills from Triplett. UCI stayed out front, going up by three before the Trailblazers turned the tables with an 8-1 run giving them a 19-15 cushion. UC Irvine came right back to tie it up at 19-all on a Boice kill, but UT dug deep for the 25-22 victory.
Utah Tech kept the momentum, taking a 7-4 advantage in the third frame. The Anteaters remained within striking distance and trailed by one (8-7) before the Trailblazers scored four unanswered and continued to roll to an 18-11 lead. UT held onto the comfortable margin until the 'Eaters rallied with an 8-4 run making it a three-point game at 24-21. Utah Tech then put down the match-winning kill.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine wraps up the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 13, when it welcomes San José State to the Bren Events Center for a 12 p.m. showdown.
NOTES
• Whitney Wallace has both of UCI's 20+ dig performances in 2026.
• Her 22 digs today were the most by a Big West player in a three-set match this season.
• Wallace has reached double digits in digs in five consecutive matches.
• Angelina Dellutri had her second consecutive double-double.
• Nicole Feliciano recorded her 45th career double-double.
• Taylor Boice has registered at least one solo block in three consecutive outings.
• Boice leads the team in kills (2.73/set), blocks (0.97/set), and hitting percentage (.364).
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
UTTECH
Irvine
Kills
40
43
Errors
13
28
Attempts
147
159
Hitting %
.184
.094
Points
57.0
50.0
Assists
37
38
Aces
2
1
Blocks
15
6
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Friday, August 28
Wednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25
Thursday, August 20
