UC Irvine Sweeps Cal State Fullerton
Nov. 13, 2009
FULLERTON, Calif. --- Kari Pestolesi registered a team-high 13 kills to lead UC Irvine to a 25-23, 25-19, 25-22 sweep over Cal State Fullerton Friday at Titan Gym. The decision gave first-year head coach Paula Weishoff her 20th win as the Anteaters improved to 20-6 overall and 9-4 in conference action while the Titans dropped to 15-11 (6-7) overall.
Pestolesi picked up 21 digs for her 18th double-double of the season while Kristin Winkler topped the team with 23 digs. Juliane Piggott added 11 kills and fired three aces to pace the Anteaters to a 6-3 edge in service winners. Taryn Robertson dished out 30 assists to go along with eight digs while Larissa Nordyke added six kills and 10 digs in the winning effort. Alexandra Hauser, Riley Cropper and Robertson led all players with three blocks apiece.
The Titans were led by Kayla Neto, who had 13 kills while Cami Croteau had a match-high 24 digs. Andrea Ragan totaled 31 assists with 10 digs for a double-double and Alex Wolnisty was errorless, putting away eight of 20 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage.
The Anteaters built an 11-3 lead in the first set following a kill by Nordyke but the Titans mounted a 10-3 run to cut the lead to one at 14-13 on a UCI error. After the Titans tied the set (16-16) on a Wolnisty kill, the two teams would trade points. With the Titans leading by one at 22-21, Neto's missed serve was followed by the block on Torrie Brown to put UCI ahead 23-22 and forced a CSF timeout. Hauser put the ball away on an overpass for set point and Robertson connected with Piggott for the kill and the win.
UCI reeled off four straight kills early in the second set to take a 7-0 lead. The Titans battled again, scoring four straight to close the gap to two at 10-8 and would eventually tie the score at 11-11 as Brown denied Nordyke at the net. The Anteaters took a slim 16-13 lead on back-to-back kills from Pestolesi and Robertson but CSF came to within a point at 17-16 on an attack error by Robertson. UCI then mounted a 7-2 run to reach set point at 24-17 and Nordyke put the ball away for the game-winning point.
The Titans pulled away from 9-9 tie in the third set to take a 12-9 lead on a kill by Erin Saddler. CSF looked to have control of the frame at 21-16 but Pestolesi put away three kills in a six-point run by the Anteaters as UCI took a 22-21 lead. Ragan found Wolnisty for a kill to halt the run but Robertson went to Pestolesi and Hauser on ensuing plays and Pestolesi's service ace would seal the match.
The Anteaters travel to UC Riverside Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
