LONG BEACH, Calif.- The UC Riverside Women's Volleyball Team (5-7, 0-1) opened up Big West Conference play Tuesday night as the Highlanders fell 3-0 to host Long Beach State (9-5, 1-0). Freshman Nailah Jones pushed the Highlander offense with a match-best 14 kills, but UCR's costly errors would lead the 49ers to a 1-0 conference start.

Long Beach got out to a quick start in the 1st set taking a 5-1 lead, but UCR would put together a run of its own to tie it at 8-8. Both teams would trade points until the middle of the set where the 49ers broke away to take it 25-17.

The 2nd set was a similar story as both teams kept it close during early points, before the 49ers put together a 4-0 run to go up 11-6. From there both sides would trade off points until Long Beach took the sets 25-21.

UCR emerged in the 3rd tying the set six different times and keeping the competition close as the team trailed 18-17 late. Despite tremendous efforts the 49ers would hold off the Highlanders winning the set 25-20 and taking the overall match 3-0.

Sophomore Yuliya Ushakova and junior Reilly Bosworth showed off their efficiency on the attack boasting attack percentages of .438 and .455, respectively. Sophomore Nicole Rodriguez lead the defense with 17 digs and senior Chelsea Doyle set up her team well with a match-best 31 assists.