IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine Anteaters defeated the Idaho volleyball team in four games Friday night at Crawford Hall in Irvine, Calif. Game scores were 21-30, 21-30, 30-27, and 21-30.
"We didn't play up to our level," head coach Debbie Buchanan said. "I thought we played really well in game three but Irvine played well and had a better rhythm."
Idaho came out slow in game one as they recorded 14 kills and eight errors for a .162 hitting percentage. The Vandals improved their accuracy in games two and three as they hit .231 percent and .255 percent, respectively, to push the match to a fourth game. But the Vandals couldn't find any offense in the fourth and final game as they recorded more hitting errors (11) than kills (10) for a -.026 hitting percentage.
"We didn't spread our offense as much as we are used to so we had to rely on our outsides a lot," Buchanan said. "We have to come out and play hard in every match and we didn't tonight."
The Vandals hit a woeful .163 percent for the night while UC Irvine hit .327 percent. The Anteaters out-blocked and out dug the Vandals, 14 to 7 and 64 to 61, respectively.
Idaho had trouble containing UCI outside hitter Kelly Wing as she notched 34 kills on .358 hitting percentage. She also added 16 digs, seven blocks and three service aces for the Anteaters.
"Irvine did a great job getting her (Wing) the ball and staying in their system," Buchanan said.
Sarah Meek recorded 15 kills on .400 hitting percentage for Idaho. She also added five digs and five blocks for the Vandals. Meek now has 322 career block assists which moves her into seventh on the UI all-time career list.
Saxony Brown and Kati Tikker were the other Vandals with double-figure kills as they recorded 12 and 17, respectively. Meghan Brown and Mandy Becker were the only Vandals with double-figure digs as they tallied 20 and 15 digs, respectively.
UC Irvine improves its record to 9-4 overall, 3-2 in the Big West and will host Utah State tomorrow night.
"We need to come out ready to play tomorrow night and compete the whole time," Buchanan said. "We have to learn how to be a better team on the road.
Idaho (8-4 overall, 2-2 BWC) faces #23 Long Beach State tomorrow at The Pyramid beginning at 7 p.m.
