Nov. 9, 2013
Final Stats
IRVINE, Calif. - Senior opposite Devon Damelio tallied 14 kills while senior setter Jenny Woolway picked up a team-leading 19 digs but UC Davis was unable to contain UC Irvine's attack after an initial 2-0 match lead, falling in a five-set Big West Conference women's volleyball showdown at the Bren Center Saturday night. The final scores were 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-9.
The Aggies fall to 14-11 for the year and even their conference record to 6-6. The Anteaters end their three-match losing skid, improving to 12-13 overall and 3-8 in Big West play.
Damelio also served up a pair of aces to go with her offensive output. Junior outside hitter Valerie Brain had an identical 14-6-40 attacking stat line as Damelio, while junior Mary Schroeder followed with 12 kill. Junior libero Megan Lancaster picked up 18 digs. Freshman Allie Wegener posted another 13 digs along with two aces.
For UCI, freshman Cassidy Pickrell led all players with 17 kills and a .556 average, adding another nine digs and six blocks on defense. Senior middle blocker Shannon Fleming chipped in another 9-1-19 offense while her fellow middle, junior Arielle Manz, led all players with nine blocks. The Anteaters improved from 16 attacking errors in the first two sets to just three in the third, fourth and fifth frames. They hit a whopping .427 in their three set wins, including .533 on an errorless 16-for-30 hitting in the third.
Brain delivered three kills in UC Davis' 7-1 final stretch in a rollercoaster of a first set, flipping a 21-18 deficit into a 25-22 victory. The Aggies had opened the match with a 6-3 lead, only to surrender eight of the next nine to fall behind by 11-7. Lancaster served up an ace to cap a 4-0 Aggie run that brought the margin to within 14-13, but junior outside hitter Allison Lee scored a kill and a block assist to push the Anteaters back up, 19-14.
Brain and sophomore Kaylin Squyres teamed up for a block against sophomore Marisa Bubica to highlight a run of three unanswered, trimming a 20-15 UCI edge to just a two-point margin. Pickrell scored a side-out kill to set the board to 21-18, setting the stage for Brain's offensive showcase. Lee put down a one ball to bring the serve back to the UC Davis side, then Brain hammered down kills on three of the next four points to give the Aggies the lead for good.
Brain struck again early in the second set, posting two kills in a 5-0 run that put UC Davis ahead to a 10-6 lead. The Aggies never surrendered the lead for the rest of the frame, later scoring six straight to push their advantage to as much as 19-10. Manz served up back-to-back aces in a brief 4-0 comeback run for UCI, closing the gap to 20-17. However, UC Davis never let its host any further into the set. With senior Lindsay Dowd providing her usual tough serving, UCI pulled a line shot wide and sent a roll shot into the tape for the final two points. The Aggies went to the break with a 2-0 match lead.
The Anteaters emerged strong out of the locker room with a dominating third set. They scored four straight to establish an early 7-3 lead, then later a Bubica solo stuff brought the UCI advantage to its peak of 20-10. Wegener served up a pair of aces in a 4-0 Aggie rally to 20-14 but Bubica ended that threat with a cross-court kill. Pickrell fired kills for the `Eaters 23rd and 24th points, then an Aggie shot sailed long for the 25th, ending a possible sweep.
UC Irvine's offense remained hot in the fourth. Pickrell hit three kills amidst a run of five unanswered that crafted a 12-7 lead. The Aggies closed the gap to a 13-12 deficit when Damelio's roll shot found an open spot near the 10-foot line. But the Anteaters took four straight right back, with Manz serving up a pair of aces in the process. UCI never surrendered its lead, finishing on a 6-1 run.
The Aggies spotted the Anteaters an initial 5-2 lead, scoring their only points when both a UCI attack and serve sailed long. Lee briefly sparked her team back into the match, placing an offspeed shot and winning a joust to shorten the lead to 5-4. Brain tied the set at 5-5 with her cross-court kill, but two Fleming kills gave the `Eaters four of the next five in forging a 9-6 edge. UCI led the rest of the way, holding at least a two-point cushion throughout. Pickell scored kills from either pin and teamed with Manz for a block in a 5-1 finish; Bubica hammered down a high four set for the match-winner.
Saturday's match marks the seventh time the Aggies have lost in five this season, and the first in which they had taken the first two sets.
UC Davis returns home to host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday followed by Cal Poly on Saturday.
