Ramblers Get Rumbled by Eaters

UCI out-blocked the Ramblers 12.5 to 3.0
UC Irvine Middle Blockers Key 3-0 Victory Over Loyola-Chicago

UCI middles hit .538 and record 10 total blocks

March 4, 2009

Final Stats

Irvine, Calif. – UC Irvine middle blockers were key as the second-ranked Anteaters swept Loyola-Chicago, 3-0 (30-23, 30-27, 30-21) in a non-conference match at Crawford Court Wednesday.

Sophomore middle blocker Kevin Wynne led UCI with 10 kills in 15 attempts without an error to hit a season-high .667. Freshman middle blocker Austin D’Amore led the team with eight total blocks, while adding six kills, which ties his career-high. Setter Ryan Ammerman matched D’Amore with eight total blocks while dishing 29 assists and guiding a balanced Anteater attack to a .299 hitting percentage. Senior Taylor Wilson had eight kills and two service aces, sophomore Jordan DuFault added seven kills and nine digs, while senior Jon Steller pitched-in four kills and a season-best eight digs. Libero Brent Asuka popped up 11 digs.

The Anteaters, who improved to 15-3 overall, owned the net, out-blocking the Ramblers 12.5 to 3.0. Loyola-Chicago (8-6) hit .121 for the match.

Krisjanis Berzins led the Ramblers with a match-high 11 kills. Michael Morice and Mike Bunting each added nine kills, while George Kamberos had 11 digs.

Loyola-Chicago used back-to-back aces by Mike Bunting to give the Ramblers the 14-11 edge in the first set. The Anteaters then outscored LUC, 9-3, the final to points of the spurt on Kevin Wynne kills to take a 20-17 lead. Wynne led all players with seven kills as the Anteaters took the set 30-23.

In the second set the score was tied at 17-17 before UCI had four unanswered points, two which were kills by Jordan DuFault to put the Anteaters ahead, 21-17. LUC closed within 28-26, but the teams traded points to give UCI the set 30-27 on another Wynne kill.

UCI jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the third set, but LUC rallied to knot the score at 7-7. The teams remained close until UCI used a kill by Austin D’Amore and three Rambler attack errors, the last a solo block by Ryan Ammerman, to give the Anteaters an 18-14 cushion. UCI would go on to take the set 30-21.

The Anteaters travel to UCLA Friday (Mar. 6) for a 7:00 p.m. first serve in Pauley Pavilion.