Riverside, CA - The UC Riverside volleyball team played their second home match in as many days on Saturday night at the Student Recreation Center, but similar to the night before the Highlanders could not post a win as the Pacific Tigers bested UCR 3-0 in Big West Conference action. The Highlanders kept each set close but could not close it out in the end as they fell 25-22, 25-21, and 25-22. Pacific improves to 12-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Big West while UCR drops to 1-12, 0-4.
In the first set the Highlanders turned a seven-point deficit at 19-12 into a one-point deficit at 23-22. Brittney Murrey and Kelley Quinn connected on two consecutive block assists to boost the Highlanders in their rally as they crawled back into the match. As much of a comeback as UC Riverside made, however, the Tigers scored two straight points to put the set out of reach, 25-22.
In the second set UCR fell behind 5-1 and 10-5 before making another comeback and closing the gap to one, 15-14, off a Murrey service ace. The Tigers pushed the lead back out to five at 21-16, though, as they went on for the second set win 25-21.
After trading points in the early goings of set three, UCR took their largest lead at 10-8 on a Tonbara Youpele service ace before Pacific went on a 5-0 run to take a 13-10 advantage. Down 20-14, the Highlanders again rallied and closed the margin of deficit down to one, 23-22, but the Tigers closed out the set again with two straight points to claim the 25-22 victory.
Quinn led UCR with three service aces and added seven blocks while Murrey tallied eight blocks and 24 assists, Amanda Nilsson led with nine digs, and Shelby LeDuff posted six kills for the Highlanders.
UC Riverside is on the road next week as they face Cal State Bakersfield in non-conference action on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 pm, followed by a Big West matchup on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Cal State Northridge at 7:00 pm.
Fans may follow UC Riverside athletics on Facebook and Twitter, as well as sign up for free text message alerts sent immediately following all Highlanders events at gohighlanders.com.
In the first set the Highlanders turned a seven-point deficit at 19-12 into a one-point deficit at 23-22. Brittney Murrey and Kelley Quinn connected on two consecutive block assists to boost the Highlanders in their rally as they crawled back into the match. As much of a comeback as UC Riverside made, however, the Tigers scored two straight points to put the set out of reach, 25-22.
In the second set UCR fell behind 5-1 and 10-5 before making another comeback and closing the gap to one, 15-14, off a Murrey service ace. The Tigers pushed the lead back out to five at 21-16, though, as they went on for the second set win 25-21.
After trading points in the early goings of set three, UCR took their largest lead at 10-8 on a Tonbara Youpele service ace before Pacific went on a 5-0 run to take a 13-10 advantage. Down 20-14, the Highlanders again rallied and closed the margin of deficit down to one, 23-22, but the Tigers closed out the set again with two straight points to claim the 25-22 victory.
Quinn led UCR with three service aces and added seven blocks while Murrey tallied eight blocks and 24 assists, Amanda Nilsson led with nine digs, and Shelby LeDuff posted six kills for the Highlanders.
UC Riverside is on the road next week as they face Cal State Bakersfield in non-conference action on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 pm, followed by a Big West matchup on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Cal State Northridge at 7:00 pm.
Fans may follow UC Riverside athletics on Facebook and Twitter, as well as sign up for free text message alerts sent immediately following all Highlanders events at gohighlanders.com.
