Women's Volleyball:

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Sept. 15, 2008

UCI TRAVELS TO GOLDEN DOME INVITE: UC Irvine (4-6 overall) concludes its non-conference schedule this weekend at the Golden Dome Invitational. The Anteaters face Western Michigan Friday (Sept. 19) at 2:00 p.m., Notre Dame Saturday (Sept. 20) at 4:00 p.m. and Liberty Sunday (Sept. 21) at 9:00 a.m.

HAUSER EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Redshirt freshman Alexandra Hauser (Chino Hills/Ayala HS) was named to the LMU Volleyball Classic All-Tournament team, the first such honor for the middle blocker. Hauser posted a career-high six block assists against San Jose State en route to a tournament total of 11. Hauser also recorded a personal-high seven kills against San Jose State and Pitt, totaling 20 in three matches while hitting .326.

ROBERTSON TO TAKE OVER No. 2 SPOT IN RECORD BOOKS: Setter Taryn Robertson (Valencia/HS) handed out 139 assists last week to bring her total to 2,946 in three seasons as an Anteater. The junior, who is averaging 10.74 assists per set, needs just 41 to pass alumna Teri Zartman (1997-2000) in the career annals.

On the season Robertson has 365 assists and is tied for first with 25 total blocks. Robertson is also hitting .349 with 37 kills.

PESTOLESI LEADS ANTEATERS IN KILLS: Sophomore Kari Pestolesi (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) led UC Irvine with 53 kills in four matches last week. The outside hitter also recorded five service aces while totaling 38 digs to sit second on the team. Pestolesi posted double-double matches against Pitt and Loyola Marymount and logged a season-high of 18 kills against San Jose State.

On the season Pestolesi has 107 kills and a 3.34 per set average. Pestolesi also tops the team with 13 service aces and is third with 82 digs.

HOMAN REGISTERS PERSONAL-BEST IN SOLO BLOCKS: Senior Shannan Homan (Placentia/Wake Forest) recorded three solo stuffs against Oregon in a midweek contest last week for a career-high. Homan also matched a personal-best with five block assists in the win against Pitt.

In four matches last week, Homan was second with 33 kills and nine total blocks. Homan is currently third with 23 total blocks and 79 kills.

ELLIS FIRES CAREER-HIGH: Junior Chelsea Ellis (Los Angeles/Brentwood HS) fired a career-best three service aces against Pitt. Ellis’ previous best was two service aces, which she matched earlier this season against San Diego. Ellis also recorded a season-high eight kills against San Jose State.

On the season, Ellis has totaled 44 kills and is tied for first with 25 total blocks. Ellis is also third with five service aces.

BRONCO BITS: Western Michigan is 7-1 on the season, with its only loss coming to Wake Forest over the weekend. WMU rebounded from its lost to the Demon Deacons with wins over Delaware and East Carolina.

The team is led by Michelle Moore, who has 110 kills and a 3.79 per set average. Caitlin Strimel tops the team with 127 digs while Jaime Gotham holds a team-high 21 total blocks.

THE SERIES: Friday’s match marks the second meeting between the two programs. WMU defeated UC Irvine in straight sets in 2003.

FIGHTING IRISH FACTS: Notre Dame is 3-6 overall and has lost four straight, falling to Cal Poly, California and Minnesota over the weekend.

Three players lead the team with 81 kills apiece with Christina Kaelin topping the trio with a 2.61 per-set average. Frenchy Silva holds a team-high 117 digs while Kellie Sciacca has 32 total blocks.

THE SERIES: The weekend tournament will also be a second date for the two teams. Notre Dame handed UCI a 3-0 loss in 2004 at the Stanford Invitational.

LIBERTY ON FIRE: The Flames have stormed out to an 8-2 record to start the season, losing their first matches over the weekend to Northern Iowa and Kansas State.

Liberty is led by Nicki Scripko, who has 106 kills and is tied for first with 12 aces. Kelly Haseman has picked up 131 digs while Ashley Webber has logged 36 total blocks.

THE SERIES: UC Irvine is 1-0 against Liberty, defeating the Flames 3-0 in 2004.

ANTEATERS IN THE BIG WEST: Robertson is at the top of the Big West with a 10.74 assist average while Devon Sutherland (Corona/Santiago HS) also leads the Big West in digs per set at 4.24. Three Anteaters are in the top 10 in hitting percentage with Hauser sitting eighth with a .271 clip. Chelsea Ellis is ninth (.269) while Homan is 10th at .268. Pestolesi is sixth in the conference with a 3.34 kill average.

As a team, UCI is first in kills (14.00) and assists (13.00) and second in hitting percentage at .225 and digs (14.91).

WEEKEND WRAPUP: The Anteaters went 1-3 in four matches last week, falling to Oregon in straight sets in UCI’s home opener. UCI then dropped a 3-1 match to San Jose State before sweeping Pittsburgh. The Anteaters capped the week with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Loyola Marymount.

Lauren Kellerman (Escondido/HS) led the team with 13 kills against the Ducks while Pestolesi added 11. Sutherland led all players with 19 digs and Robertson recorded 34 assists.

Pestolesi and Homan combined for 29 kills against the Spartans with Pestolesi putting away a season-high 18. Robertson had 45 assists while Sutherland recorded another 19-dig match. Hauser posted a career-high seven kills and six block assists.

Pestolesi topped the team with 11 kills while adding 14 digs for a double-double against Pitt. Kellerman belted a .375 average, totaling eight kills with 11 digs while Robertson also logged a double-double with 29 assists and 10 scoops. Homan led all players with five block assists to match a personal-high while Ellis and Hauser added four and three block assists, respectively.

Kellerman topped all players with 12 digs against LMU while Pestolesi put in 13 kills and 10 digs. Robertson had 31 assists in the effort with two of UCI’s four block assists.

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