Riverside—The UC Riverside Volleyball Team found itself trailing Cal State Fullerton two sets to one Friday evening, and down 19-12 in the fourth, but the Highlanders battled back to tie win the final two sets, and improve to 6-8 on the season.

That is UCR's best record through 14 matches, and the first time the Highlanders won their Big West opener, since 2005.

After splitting the first two sets, Cal State Fullerton (0-13, 0-1) appeared to take control of the match with a decisive 25-14 win in the third, while jumping out to an 19-12 lead in the fourth.

UC Riverside scored the next five points thanks in part to a pair of kills by Alex Gresham, cutting the Titans advantage to two, 19-17. It was still a two-point lead, 24-22, as the Highlanders faced their first of four match points.

A Meg Grahem kill made it 24-23, and a Cal State Fullerton attack error tied the score. Both teams had their chances to win the set over the next 10 points, with Cal State Fullerton serving once again for the match at 29-28, but kills by Alexis Urbach and Alex Gresham followed by a Titans attack error gave the Highlanders the fourth set.

UC Riverside never trailed in the fifth, and Helena Peric's final kill sent the crowd of 510 Highlanders faithful home happy.

UCR is off until Wednesday, September 30 as the Highlanders travel to UC Davis for a 7 pm PT start against the Aggies.