SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The UC Riverside Women's Volleyball Team opened up the Sacramento State Invitational Friday night falling to Seattle 3-2 in a heated battle. 

The Highlanders started off the evening on top winning the first set 25-21, but the Redhawks would answer with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead in the overall match.

In a must-win 4th set UCR rose to the occasion taking it 25-23 to force a 5th and final set. The team would add 10 points in the 5th but ultimately fell giving Seattle the 3-2 overall win.

UC Riverside led in almost every offensive category winning the points, kills, and assists battles, but the Redhawks turned in a cleaner sheet with 12 less errors committed. 

Three Highlanders landed double digit kills as senior Kaiulani Ahuna kept her hot streak with another 26 and both sophomore Yuliya Ushakova and freshman Nailah Jones turned in 10 a piece.

UCR will be back in the gym tomorrow as the Highlanders will face host Sacramento State and Nevada in a doubleheader to closeout the tournament.