LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego got match highs of 12 kills from Tanner Syftestad and 12 digs from Tyler Bird, but was unable to get its four-match homestand off to a winning start, falling in three sets to Concordia University Irvine in a non-conference men's volleyball match at RIMAC Arena on Friday night. Set scores were 25-22, 25-19 and 25-17.

UCSD dropped to 1-9 overall, with Concordia now at 5-2. The teams had met for the first time ever in their respective 2015 season openers in Irvine back on Jan. 7, with the host Eagles downing the Tritons in four sets that night.

Syftestad hit .357 (12-2-28) for his 12 kills, adding a match- and career-high five total blocks. Shayne Beamer added seven kills and three blocks, while fellow starting middle blocker Mathew Schnitzer had six kills and three blocks of his own.

For the first time this season, UCSD held a blocking advantage over its opponent, 8.0-4.0.

Ryan Anselmo put down 11 kills to lead the Eagles, and also shared the team high with eight digs. Taylor Falduti contributed seven kills and four blocks.

Concordia led for virtually the entire first set after scoring the first three points, with just a single tie score at 13-13, at the conclusion of a 3-0 run for the Tritons through an Eagle attack error, Luke La Mont service ace, and Kirill Rudenko kill.

The visitors trotted out to a 16-10 advantage in the second as UCSD called its second and final timeout of the frame. The Tritons could get no closer than four points.

UCSD had its only lead of the night when redshirt freshman setter José Carlos Martinez served an ace to begin the third. The tri-captain collected 23 assists.

UCSD resumes Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play on Saturday, Feb. 7, welcoming No. 5 UC Irvine into RIMAC Arena for a 7 p.m. match.

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