17-5, 9-2
UC Irvine
11-13, 5-7
Cal Poly Wins Five-Set Thriller over UC Irvine, Improves to 9-2 in Big West
11/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Sophomore Taylor Nelson recorded a career-high 61 assists and freshman outside hitter Adlee Van Winden collected a career-high 22 kills as Cal Poly volleyball swept the regular season series from UC Irvine surviving a five-set marathon (19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10) for victory on Friday night in Mott Athletics Center. The Mustangs improved to 17-5 overall and 9-2 in conference play, while the Anteaters fell to 11-13 and 5-7.
Cal Poly sophomore middle blocker Savannah Niemen produced a season-high 16 kills and Nelson delivered 17 digs in the win.
Cal Poly improved to 7-1 at home this year and its 17-5 record through the initial 22 games of the schedule is the program's best mark since 2006.
Cal Poly's victory, coupled with Long Beach State's loss to No. 6 Hawai'i on Friday, has the Mustangs tied for second place in conferece heading into Saturday's affair with UC Davis.
Harlee Kekauoha led UC Irvine with 18 kills, Shelley Anderson had 61 assists and Luna Tsujimoto produced 20 digs.
UC Irvine grabbed the early momentum by taking the opening set, 25-19, as Ella Rosenfeld led the charge with five kills for the Anteaters and Anderson collected 14 assists. Cal Poly senior outside hitter Hannah Schleis led the way for the Mustangs in the first frame, recording four kills, while Nelson delivered 10 assists.
Cal Poly fought back taking the second set, 25-19, behind six kills from Van Winden and five from Niemen. Nelson amassed 12 assists in the second frame, while sophomore libero Bailey Roach and senior libero Nicole Kessler each had four digs. The second set featured nine tie scores and four lead changes.
The Mustangs took a two-to-one set advantage after winning the third frame, as Niemen (seven kills) and Van Winden (6) combined on 13 kills and Nelson provided 18 assists. UCI's Marisa Bubica had five assists in the third, which witnessed five tie scores overall.
UC Irvine took the fourth set, 25-22, behind six kills from Kekauoha and 12 assists from Anderson, to knot the match at two apiece, forcing a decisive fifth. Cal Poly sophomore outside hitter Raeann Greisen and Van Winden each had five kills during the fourth frame.
The fifth set belonged to Cal Poly, as the Mustangs grabbed a 10-6 lead after a Greisen kill and secured the marathon, five-set win after an attack error by the Anteaters gave the Mustangs a 15-10, fifth-set triumph.
Cal Poly hit .300 overall, while the Anteaters used a .275 hitting percentage to push the Mustangs to the brink. Greisen was one of three Mustangs with double-figure kill totals, finishing with 12, while freshman libero Katherine Brouker compiled 16 digs.
Cal Poly freshman outside hitter Alexis Clewis provided the Mustangs a spark off the bench, recording a career-high five kills in the victory.
Cal Poly returns to action tomorrow at 4 p.m. PT when hosting UC Davis in Mott Athletics Center.
