LA JOLLA, California — Ryan Ka led all players with 18 kills and Matt Palma registered a career-high 17 digs but the 13th-ranked UC San Diego men's volleyball team was defeated, 3-1, by Concordia Irvine Friday night at RIMAC Arena.

Scores of the non-conference match went 25-22, 18-25, 26-24, and 25-20. With the loss, the Tritons fell to 3-4 on the season. The Eagles remained unbeaten at 5-0.

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HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams hit over .300 with UC San Diego at .319 (53-15-119) and Concordia at .350 (66-18-137). The Eagles also led in kills (66-53), aces (4-2), blocks (7-6), and assists (56-49). The Tritons held a slight, 44-43 advantage in digs.

Ka, an outside hitter, had the 18 kills on a .405 attack percentage with just three errors in 37 attempts. Fellow outside Wyatt Harrison finished with 11 kills, while middle blocker Logan Clark had nine and hit .400. Middle Shane Benetz logged six kills on a .667 hitting percentage while adding five blocks (two solos). Opposite Charlie Siragusa ended his night with seven kills and a career-high 10 digs.

A trio of Eagles hit double-figures in kills including Jonathan Carlson (17), Uriel Batista (15), and Erik Boisvert (11). Carlson also contributed 10 digs and Boisvert had four blocks (one solo).

The two teams are scheduled to meet two more times during the regular season - Feb. 19 at RIMAC Arena and March 10 at CU Arena in Irvine, Calif.

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HIGHLIGHT REEL



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KEVIN RING INTERVIEW



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TRITON TIDBITS
• It was the third time this season that UC San Diego has hit at least .300.
• Matt Palma's previous career-high for digs was 15, set last week at NJIT.

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UP NEXT
UC San Diego hosts UCLA, currently ranked fourth nationally, on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. It will be the first time this season that fans are allowed at a home match. RIMAC Arena will be restricted to 50 percent capacity. Those in attendance will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of the event. KN95 masks covering nose and mouth are required for all spectators and will be provided on-site. No food or drink is allowed in the facility. 

Purchase tickets here.

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.