Lubbock, TX—The UC Riverside Volleyball Team continued its hot start to the season Friday morning as the Highlanders ran their record to 6-1 with a 3-1 victory over Texas Rio Grande Valley at the Texas Tech Red Raider Classic. UC Riverside takes on the host Red Raiders this afternoon at 4 pm PT.
SET ONE (27-25, UTRGV)
Key Run: The Highlanders led by as many as five on a number of occasions, the last at 23-18. However, Texas Rio Grande Valley scored the next five points to tie the score. UC Riverside had two set point opportunities, but UTRGV scored the final three points of the set for the win.
SET TWO (25-13, UCR)
Key Run: UC Riverside scored 10 of 13 points to turn a 9-5 advantage into a 19-8 lead. Mickayla Sherman had three kills during the run, and UCR never trailed in the set.
SET THREE (25-18, UCR)
Key Run: Leading 7-6, the Highlanders scored the next four points, and UTRGV never got within four the rest of the way. Four different Highlanders had kills during the run.
SET FOUR (25-21, UCR)
Key Run: The Highlanders led for most of the set, but UTRGV tied the score at 20. UC Riverside scored five of the next six points to secure the match.
GAME NOTES
The 6-1 start to the season ties the best start in the Highlanders' Division I history (2001, 2004, 2005). The 2001 UC Riverside squad began the season with seven wins in its first eight matches, and the 2004 team won eight of its first nine. The 2005 team began the year 11-1.
UC Riverside's five wins in a row is the team's longest such streak since the 2005 team won 10 straight.
Kat Lowry had 10 blocks in the match, which is the most blocks for a member of the Highlanders in a single match since Shannon Moyneur recorded 12 blocks at CSUN on October 31, 2008.
Kaiulani Ahuna recorded her second kills-digs double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs.
The Highlanders now have seven players averaging better than two kills per set.
Ushakova recorded a season-high 11 kills.
Mickayla Sherman recorded a season-high eight kills.
The Highlanders had five players post double digit digs.
