Back-to-Back Sweeps of Hawaii Completed

Freshmen Shine In UC Irvine's 3-0 Victory Over No. 13 Hawaii
Austin D'Amore records career-high 10 kils

March 27, 2009

Final Stats

Irvine, Calif. – Freshmen Carson Clark and Austin D’Amore were too much to handle as No. 1 UC Irvine defeated No. 13 Hawaii, 3-0 (30-19, 30-24, 32-30) at the Bren Events Center Friday.

UCI’s wining streak goes to seven as the Anteaters improve to 19-3 overall and remain at the top of the MPSF standings with a 14-2 record. Hawaii drops to 6-15 on the year and 3-13 in league play.

Clark, a freshman opposite, pounded a match-high 20 kills, while D’Amore, a freshman middle blocker, recorded a career-high 10 kills and hit .562 (10-1-16). The duo each added five block assists. Senior Taylor Wilson totaled eight kills and had six digs to share the team lead with Jordan DuFault who also recorded seven kills and five blocks. Middle blocker Kevin Wynne hit .500 (6-1-10) and had a match-high seven blocks. Senior setter Ryan Ammerman guided the team to a .379 hitting percentage with 50 set assists, five digs and three blocks.

Last night the Anteater serving was the key, but tonight UCI’s blocking was dominant with a 14 to 7 advantage. For the second consecutive night, Hawaii hit .125 (35-23-96).

Hawaii was led by Brennon Dyer with 11 kills and five digs. Sean Carney recorded 10 kills and five digs, while Gus Tuaniga had seven kills and Matt Rawson added five blocks.

UCI’s freshmen started the match off on fire with Carson Clark recording eight kills and Austin D’amore adding seven (.700) without committing an error as the Anteaters won the set 30-19. UCI took control of the set on back-to-back blocks to go ahead 8-3. The Warriors would get no closer than two the rest of the way.

With the second set tied at 21-21, UCI scored three unanswered on kills by Clark and Taylor Wilson plus a Hawaii attack error (24-21). UCI would close out the set out-scoring the Warriors 6-3 for the 30-24 victory.

Hawaii led 25-22 late in the third set before UCI used two Jordan DuFault kills, a Warrior attack attempt that went long and a block by Kevin Wynne and Ryan Ammerman to take the 26-25 advantage. The teams would trade points until a kill by Ammerman was followed by an attack error by Brennon Dyer to end the set, 32-30.

UCI will travel to BYU for a pair of matches next Thursday and Friday (Apr. 2-3).