IRVINE, Calif.— UC San Diego women's volleyball overcame an early setback to defeat UC Irvine in four sets at the Bren Events Center on Saturday. After dropping the first set 19-25, the Tritons (3-11, 1-1 Big West) rallied to win the next three sets 25-22, 25-18, 25-23, over the Anteaters (5-9, 0-2 Big West). The Tritons tallied a total of 51 kills and were led by a strong defensive performance, recording 73 digs in the match.
 
Maria Fernanda Afonso led the team in scoring with 17.5 points, including 16 kills and three blocks. Jasmine Saran posted a total of 15 points, highlighted by 11 kills and two service aces over four games. Kayla Uhlick contributed significantly from the service line with five aces and added 14 digs along with Molly McCluskey. Mika Rome facilitated the offense with 36 assists while also collecting 15 digs for her second double-double.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego started strong in the first set with an early lead facilitated by kills from Afonso and Saran, and a service ace by Kayla Uhlick, bringing them ahead 3-1. However, UC Irvine responded with a 10-1 scoring run to jump in front, 11-4. UCI carried the momentum late into the set, extending an 22-9 advantage. As the set progressed, Irvine maintained their advantage, but UC San Diego mounted a late rally with a series of kills from Afonso and McCluskey, closing the deficit to 23-17. The set concluded with UC San Diego narrowing the gap to 24-19 before UC Irvine secured the final point with a kill, ending the set 25-19 in favor of the Anteaters.
 
UC Irvine carried the momentum into the second set, taking an early 5-2 lead. The teams exchanged points back-and-forth before the Anteaters extended their lead, 13-8, midway through the set. UCI held a five-point advantage as late as 19-14 before the Tritons mounted a rally. UC San Diego strung together a series of successful plays, including back-to-back kills by Johnson and a service ace by Iris Canko, which pulled UC San Diego within one. The team's defensive efforts also shone through, highlighted by blocks from McCluskey and Saran. The Tritons outscored UCI, 7-1, to close out the set and secure the comeback, 25-22.
 
UC San Diego took control early in the third set, overcoming a 7-2 deficit to rally with a series of strong plays. Saran played a key role in the comeback, delivering two aces and facilitating a series of attack errors from UC Irvine, allowing UC San Diego to tie the score at 8-8. Ireland McNees contributed with pivotal kills, helping to push the Tritons ahead 14-9. The momentum remained with UC San Diego as it extended the lead through strategic blocks and effective kills by Afonso and Saran. Despite UC Irvine's attempts to close the gap, UC San Diego maintained the lead, with McNees closing the set with a decisive kill. UC San Diego finished the third set with a 25-18 victory, securing the set.
 
In the fourth set, the teams traded a two-point swing early in the set. After trailing by three, the Tritons strung together five consecutive points with a kill from McCluskey, a pair of kills from Johnson and a block by Afonso to take the lead, 12-10. They capitalized on Irvine's errors, extending their lead to 17-12, aided by a service ace from Uhlick and a block involving Saran. UC San Diego continued to maintain the edge despite Irvine's attempts to narrow the gap, with McNees and Rome successfully converting critical points. The Tritons secured the set 25-23, clinching the win with an attack error by UCI to close the set.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Mika Rome recorded her second double-double of the season.
• UC San Diego held the edge in kills (51-40), aces (9-5) and digs (73-66), while UC Irvine had the advantage in blocks (18-9). The teams were fairly even in hitting percentage, .112 to .111, in favor of UC San Diego.
• The Tritons are 1-4 in four-set matches this season.
• UC San Diego is now 4-8 in the all-time series with UC Irvine and 4-4 in Division I.
• Starters included Maria Fernanda Afonso, Madison Johnson, Molly McCluskey, Ireland McNees, Mika Rome, Jasmine Saran and Kayla Uhlick.
  • Kayla Uhlick made her first start at libero this season for the Tritons.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will host two Big West matches at home, taking on Cal Poly on Friday, Oct. 3 and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Oct. 4. The matches 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.