College Roundup: UCI falls to Fresno State

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UC Irvine Tournament

IRVINE — UC Irvine was in the drivers’ seat of the UC Irvine Tournament with a 2-0 record but Fresno State won the final three sets in a 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24 decision to defeat the Anteaters Saturday at the Bren Events Center.

UCI (9-5), Fresno State (6-6) and American University each finished with 2-1 records and the title was decided by sets with the Bulldogs posting an 8-4 set record to claim the championship. UCI finished at 7-6 while American was 7-7.

Aly Squires and Shelley Anderson were named to the all-tournament team for the Anteaters.

Marisa Bubica tied for the match-high with 18 kills to lead UCI while Squires totaled 14 kills and 19 digs. Allison Lee also hit double-digits with 13 kills and 17 digs while Arden Davis scooped up 23 digs. Shelley Anderson had 48 assists and eight digs in the effort. UCI topped Fresno State in blocks 11-9 but were out-dug 96-85.

The UCI Tournament concludes the nonconference slate for the Anteaters, who open Big West Conference action at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Friday.

—

Orange Coast def. Pasadena

PASADENA — Sierra Brown had 31 kills and 22 digs to lead the Pirates to a 25-22, 25-13, 18-25, 23-25, 15-11 nonconference win Friday.

Setter Megan Ritchie amassed 50 assists, Kiana Nicio made 24 digs, Kayla Mayer had 23 digs and Kellie Kleszcz had four blocks for OCC (5-0).

In the fifth set, OCC never trailed and ended it on Brown’s seventh kill of that game.

—

MEN’S WATER POLO

NorCal Tournament

PLEASANT HILL — UC Irvine sustained its first loss of the season Saturday as the ‘Eaters fell to Pepperdine, 8-6, at Diablo Valley College.

Mitch Wise and Tyler Mancuso scored two goals each for UCI.

The ‘Eaters defeated Diablo Valley College, 10-9, Saturday afternoon on the strength of three goals by Wise. Since DVC is a community college, the game does not count on UCI’s official record.

The ‘Eaters continue play in the NorCal Tournament Sunday morning at 10:50, facing UC Davis at Diablo Valley College.

—

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Mustang Challenge

SANTA CLARITA — UC Irvine placed third at the Mustang Challenge Division I Invite Saturday at Central Park.

The ‘Eaters totaled 63 points as UCLA won the meet with 20 and Cal State Fullerton was second with 53 in the competition.

Sophomore Riley Martin paced UCI with a second-place showing of 24 minutes, 56.20 seconds in the 8,000-meter race as UCLA’s Sergey Sushchickh was first in 24:50.11.

UCI’s Tommy Newton-Neal was eighth in 25:28.11, Nolan Del Valle 12th in 25:46.64 and Isaiah Thompson 21st in 26:11.37.

Amir Shirif came in 23rd with a time of 26:12.92 while Blake Wanser (26:37.74) was 31st, Conor Stanton (26:45.94) 32nd and Jake Williams (27:02.00) 33rd.

The ‘Eaters return to action Oct. 4 at the NCAA Preview meet in Sacramento.

—

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Mustang Challenge

SANTA CLARITA — UC Irvine placed third Saturday in the Mustang Challenge Division I Invite, hosted by The Master’s College.

The Anteaters had 76 points in the meet at Central Park. UCLA was first with 20 and Loyola Marymount second with 51 points.

Kelsey Smith of UCLA was the individual champion with a time of 17 minutes, 1.56 seconds over the 5,000-meter course.

UCI junior Kaycee Holcomb placed fifth in 18:07.20, Carlotta Pham was 17th in 18:50.63 and Makenna McGrann 18th in 18:53.79.

Completing the Anteaters’ top seven were Hannah Ruby (19:24.12) in 29th, Mary Follo (19:29.96) in 31st, Marthie Ponty (19:33.97) 32nd and Marisa Gonzalez (19:38.37) 33rd.

Next competition for UCI is the NCAA Preview meet in Sacramento Oct. 4.

—

WOMEN’S SOCCER

UC Irvine 3, Loyola Marymount 0

LOS ANGELES — Laura McGrail scored two goals for the Anteaters in the nonconference match Friday.

Jordan Bruce had the assist on both goals, while Jenna Pellegrino scored an unassisted goal for UCI (5-3-0).

Goalie Jennifer Randazzo had three saves in her shutout.

Loyola Marymount is 3-6-0.

—

Vanguard 11, Bethesda 0

SANTA ANA — Jordan Davidson produced four goals and one assist and Kayla Arenas had three goals and two assists for the No. 2-ranked Lions in the nonconference match Friday.

Liliana Ruiz added three assists and one goal, Veronica Aguilar had one goal and one assist, Jennifer Martin scored two goals, Sarah Reed had two assists and Sarah Warner contributed one assist for Vanguard (6-0), which outshot Bethesda (1-5), 33-0.

—

MEN’S SOCCER

Vanguard 2, Bethesda 1

SANTA ANA — Kelvin Fares and Nahum Paz scored one goal each for the Lions in the nonconference match Friday.

Jesus Fregoso had two assists and Juan Arellano was also credited for an assist on Fares’ goal along with Fregoso.

Luca Licciardi made two saves for Vanguard (3-2).

Bethesda is 3-5.