UCI Turns Out the Lights on Penn St.

March 14, 2007

WILSON COMES UP BIG OFF THE BENCH TO HELP NO. 2 UC IRVINE TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER
NO. 6 PENN STATE (Boxscore)

Irvine, Calif. – Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wilson came off the bench to add 16 kills to help No. 2 UC Irvine defeat No. 6 Penn State, 3-1 (30-26, 27-30, 30-21, 30-25) at Crawford Court Wednesday.

Wilson came off the bench in game two and added seven of his 16 kills then had six kills, while hitting .625 in the third set. He also added an ace and three blocks on the night.

UCI’s Matt Webber led all players with 19 kills, hitting .500 (19-4-30). Webber also recorded two aces and a team-high seven digs. Freshman outside hitter Cole Reinholm tied his career-high with 14 kills and hit .667 (14-2-18). Middle blocker Aaron Harrell pitched in seven kills and five total blocks, while David Smith had eight kills and four total blocks. Senior setter Brian Thornton totaled 56 set assists, five digs and two blocks. Libero Brent Asuka recorded six digs.

With the win, UCI extends its winning streak to nine and improves to 21-3 overall, the second most wins in program history following last season’s 27-5 mark. Penn State snaps an 11-match winning streak and goes to 12-3 on the year.

Penn State had a trio of players with double-digit kills with Matt Anderson pacing the Nittany Lions with 17 kills, followed by Max Lipsitz (12) and Alex Gutor (10). Gutor also added seven total blocks and two aces. Middle blocker Max Holt had eight kills and a match-high nine block assists. Libero Ryan Sweitzer tallied a match-high eight digs. Penn State won the battle at the net, out-blocking UCI 17.0 to 10.0.

UCI trailed 10-13 in game one before the Anteaters went on an 11-2 run to take the 21-15 lead which was capped by a Reinholm kill. The Anteaters would go on to the 30-26 victory.

Penn State jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage and never relinquished the lead in game two. UCI closed within 28-26 on three consecutive points, but a Nittany Lion triple block gave Penn State match point 29-26. Game point was delay until Max Holt hammered a kill for the set 30-27.

Game three was all UC Irvine as the Anteaters hit .727 (17-1-22). Reinholm was a perfect 4-4 hitting, while Webber connected on four of five attempts, hitting .800 and firing two service aces.

Game four remained close with the teams tied 20-20. A kill by Wilson was followed by a solo block by Aaron Harrell to give UCI the two-point cushion, 22-20. The Anteaters led 27-24 when David Smith and Brian Thornton each had solo blocks between a PSU kill to give UCI match point 29-25. Reinholm fired a service ace for the game and match winner.