LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego women's volleyball fell to UC Riverside in four sets on Friday evening in LionTree Arena. The Tritons (6-21, 4-11 Big West) fell to the Highlanders (8-18, 4-12 Big West) by set scores of 20-25, 24-26, 25-19, 18-25. 
 
Ireland McNees led the team with 19 kills and added nine digs, while Molly McCluskey contributed 14 kills and eight digs. Jasmine Saran recorded nine kills and five blocks, showcasing her effectiveness at the net. Mika Rome distributed 46 assists, facilitating the team's offensive efforts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set opened with the Tritons and the Highlanders trading points early, but the Tritons briefly took control after a block by Katie Rapp and Saran, putting them ahead 3-2. UCR responded, capitalizing on the Tritons' errors to reclaim the lead 10-7. UC San Diego fought back with kills from McCluskey and McNees, leveling the score at 12-12. Despite the Tritons' efforts, including another kill by McNees, UCR surged ahead, eventually closing the set 25-20.
 
UC San Diego showed resilience during the second set, with an early 6-2 lead fueled by key kills from Saran and Rome. Riverside responded with a series of points, leveling the score at 6-6. The Tritons regained momentum with a string of successful plays, including decisive kills by McNees and Rapp, bringing the score to 22-20 in their favor. However, UCR managed to tie the game at 24-24, ultimately taking the set 26-24.
 
The Tritons secured a decisive victory in the third set, closing the set with a score of 25-19. Key moments included a strong offensive run where McCluskey and McNees contributed multiple kills, with McNees recording the final point. Rome was instrumental in setting up several successful attacks, aiding in the Tritons' momentum. Despite UCR's attempt to rally and tie the score at 15, the Tritons responded with a series of successful plays to regain the lead and ultimately clinch the set.
 
The teams traded points early in set four, with UCR holding the slight 12-11 advantage midway through the frame. The Highlanders then put together a six-point scoring run to create distance, 18-11. UC San Diego continued to battle with key kills from McNees and Maria Fernanda Afonso down the stretch. The Tritons fought off three match points before ultimately falling to UCR, 25-18.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The teams were evenly matched in aces (3-3), blocks (8-7), kills (53-55) and points (64-65) with UCR holding the slight edge. The Highlanders hit .207 compared to .158 for the Tritons.
• The Tritons are 2-9 in four-set matches this season.
• UC San Diego is now 12-16 in the all-time series (7-3 in D-I) and 0-2 this season against UC Riverside.
• Starters included Paulina Baillie, Lucia Barroso, Molly McCluskey, Ireland McNees, Katie Rapp, Mika Rome and Jasmine Saran. 

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will continue their final homestand on Saturday against UC Davis at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
 
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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 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.