Box Score Riverside, CA—The UC Riverside Volleyball Team got its third conference win Tuesday night in a five set thriller over visiting CSUN 3-2, by the scores of 25-19, 21-25, 24-26, 25-22, and 19-17.

Helena Peric led the Highlanders with 23 kills and 12 digs. UCR also got strong performances from Fabiana Rosas (15 kills, 8 digs), Alex Gresham (11 kills), Maddie Hubbell (27 digs), and Chelsea Doyle, who had 53 assists and 17 digs.

CSUN was led by Cieana Stinson, who had a match leading 29 kills, followed by Julie Haake (15 kills), and Maddie Leiphardt (59 assists).

The first set of opened in a sea-saw battle that would be a sign of things to come. The Highlanders and Matadors were tied 7-7 early in the first with neither team able to establish a notable lead.

UCR (8-16, 3-8) then mounted its first rally of the match, winning six out of seven points on strength of 3 Alex Gresham kills in the run to lead 13-8. CSUN (5-18, 4-7) responded with a run of their own, also winning six of seven points to tie the first set 14 all.

14-14 would be the last tie of the set, as the highlanders captured the momentum to push out to a crucial 22-19 lead, forcing a Matadors timeout. UCR continued on its inspired run, getting back-to-back kills from Helena Peric, and a Christina Maietta service ace to closeout the set, 25-19. 

The second set of the match began nearly the same as the first, as the clubs traded points, and were tied at 6,8,9 and 10. The Matadors got strong play from Ceiana Stinson and Aeryn Owens as they separated from UCR establishing a 18-12 lead. Helena Peric had 6 kills in the set to help the Highlanders get back into the match, but they got no closer than three points as CSUN closeout the set, 25-21, behind Stinson (6) and Owens (5) combined 11 kills.

UCR jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in what proved be the most unique set of the night. CSUN was unable to hold-off the Highlander charge led by Fabiana Rosas, who 8 had kills in the set, creating a five-point margin 15-10. UCR would continue to lead the third set with the Matadors following along all the way up until the set was tied 23-23.
 
Having battled back into the set, the Matadors seized the opportunity and took their first lead of the set 24-23. UCR held on CSUN's first game-point attempt, but leading 25-24, the Matadors got a set clinching kill from Ceiana Stinson to go up two sets to one.

UCR was now in a familiar position down two set to one at home, and trying to regain momentum in the fourth set. The fourth set was played at a high intensity that would set the tone for the remainder of the match.

As was the case in every set, the teams traded points early before UCR gained a slim 13-12 lead midway through the set. The Highlanders then took three out of four points to lead 16-13, causing the Matadors to stop the action with their first timeout of the set.

UCR's three-point margin would remain until late into the set, and at 22-21, Coach Patton made a strategic substitution by placing Ashley Fox in to serve for her first action of the night. The senior would not disappoint as her serves landed just a bit over the net, catching the Matadors off-guard and leaving them unable to set their attack. The Highlanders took advantage of a unsteady CSUN attack to win three out of four points to capture the fourth 25-22, and force a decisive fifth set.  

Both of UC Riverside's two conference wins have come in five set matches, so they were now in familiar territory, being at home, and in a fifth set.

As the played on began, both teams made numerous mistakes as the teams combined for six errors in the first 14 points of the set, leaving the score tied 7-7. The Matadors then went out to a 10-7 lead, forcing UCR to call for time.

Cieana Stinson led CSUN throughout the match, and was poised to finish it off. The teams then split the four points to making it 11-9 Matadors advantage, when Coach Patton signaled for sophomore Leslie Pease to enter the match for the first time. Pease also has unique serving style that helped the Highlanders win three straight points and regain the lead, 12-11.

CSUN then rallied to what would be their first of four match points at 14-13. The Matadors set-up their playmaker for what they hoped would be a match winning kill, but the double block of Alex Gresham and Meg Graham forced Stinson into an error, tying the match at 14. UCR would fend off three more CSUN match points, before battling to a 17-17 tie.

The Highlanders were still looking for their first chance at closing out the match, and got it, thanks to a timely Alex Gresham kill. CSUN then called a timeout, as they now had to defend match for the first in the set. The Highlanders controlled the CSUN attack attempt, and Fabiana Rosas set-up Helena Peric for set and match winning kill.

UCR travels to face Cal State Fullerton Saturday November 7 at 7pm.