January 20, 2007

UC IRVINE DEFEATS UC SANTA BARBARA IN FIVE-GAME THRILLER (see original story at http://www.mvball.cui.edu)

IRVINE, Calif. --- Top-ranked UC Irvine rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat No.6 UC Santa Barbara, 25-30, 28-30, 30-22, 30-25, 15-10 Saturday in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Bren Events Center. The win lifted UCI to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play while the Gauchos fell to 5-2 overall (3-1).

UCI setter Brian Thornton totaled a career-high 74 set assists while senior Jayson Jablonsky also had a career-high 28 kills and a season-best hitting clip of .523 (28-5-44) to lead four Anteaters in double-figure kills. Senior Matt Webber recorded a season-high 21 kills and four service aces while sophomore Taylor Wilson put away 18 kills, also a career-high for the outside hitter. Senior David Smith hit a team-high .667, committing just one error in 18 attempts with 13 kills. Defensively, Jablonsky and Webber each totaled 11 digs while freshman Nick Spittle had seven digs for a season-best effort. Junior Aaron Harrell led the team with four block assists.

The Gauchos were led by senior Evan Patak, who had 36 kills and two service aces. Patak and Ben Brockman shared the lead in digs with nine. David Kennedy hit .517, for the team and recorded 17 kills while Theo Brunner added 10. Setter Bart Kowalski recorded 72 assists and Aaron Richman topped UCSB with five total blocks.

UCSB took the early advantage at 12-9 and never relinquished the lead in game one. UC Irvine came as close as one point at 21-20 on a kill by Smith, but the Gauchos responded with three consecutive points to take a 24-20 lead, capped by a service ace by Patak. UCSB’s lead extended to five at 27-22 on a Patak kill and the Gauchos would go on to win on a service error by UCI.

UCI took a 6-3 lead in game two but a three-point rally, again capped by a service ace by Patak would give the Gauchos a 7-6 lead. The Anteaters reclaimed the lead at 17-16 on a Wilson kill but a Kowalski kill and a block by Richman and Kennedy resulted in the 19-17 edge for UCSB. The Gauchos lead by as much as four and would go on to win the second frame.

UC Irvine took control of game three midway through the set, opening a six-point lead at 15-9 as Harrell and Webber denied Richman at the net. At 25-19, Wilson and Jablonsky recorded back-to-back kills to extend the lead to eight points. UCI hit .514, committing just two errors in 35 attempts in the win.

Game four was tight with neither team able to maintain more than a two-point lead. With UCI holding on to a slim 24-23 edge, Jablonsky and Harrell connected with sophomore Ryan Ammerman on consecutive plays, to build a 26-23 lead. Harrell and Webber teamed up again to block Kennedy (28-24) and Webber sent a ball cross-court to seal the win.

In the deciding game, UCI shook off the Gauchos with a kill and service ace from Webber to take a 7-4 lead. Jablonsky’s kill at 10-7 was followed by service ace from Ammerman to increase the lead to four and UCI would go on to complete the come-back. The Anteaters were errorless in the frame, hitting .769 (10 for 13) while UCSB hit .500 (9-2-14).

UC Irvine continues MPSF play next Wednesday (Jan. 24) against USC at the Bren Events Center.