Women's Volleyball Team Celebration 2019 CSF
Carlos Puma
1
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 8-4
3
Winner UC Riverside UCR 5-7
Cal St. Fullerton CSF
8-4
1
Final
3
UC Riverside UCR
5-7
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 24 25 24 27 (1)
UC Riverside UCR 26 23 26 29 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Highlanders Top Titans in Conference Opener

RIVERSIDE—The first match of Big West play went to the Highlanders as the UC Riverside Women's Volleyball Team (5-7, 1-0) defeated Cal State Fullerton (8-6, 0-1) 3-1 Tuesday night. The triumph at SRC Arena gives UCR its first 1-0 start in conference play since 2015.

The final score is not indicative of how close the match actually was with all four sets seeing just a two point deficit. In all there was 25 ties and lead changes between these two Big West foes, and a handful of big momentum plays that the Highlanders would come out on top of.
 
"We grew a lot in those pressure situations," Head Coach Michelle Patton-Coleman said. "I think it's important to be on the winning side of some of those points, and we hung in there Tonight and got the job done. I couldn't be more proud of them."

UCR would grab the first (26-24), third (26-24), and fourth sets (29-27), while CSF took the second (25-23).

The team was once again led on the attack by freshman Amarachi Osuji who put up a career-high 20 kills to lead all players, and added 12 digs to complete the double-double. Junior Ayla Fresenius hit double digits in two categories as well notching 15 kills and a career-high 17 digs.

"I've been working on being a smarter player when I take my swings, and using the blocks to my advantage instead of avoiding them," Osuji said. "Our middles have been doing a really good job of pulling, and giving me splits, and the setters have been giving me great sets. It's definitely been a team effort."

Osuji has posted double digit kills in the last five straight matches totaling 84 for a k/set line of 4.42.

Two Highlander setters split time on the assists with sophomore Deja Dade collecting 35 and junior Morgan Kline dishing 19. Sophomore Renata Bath led the defensive efforts with 23 digs and freshman Isabella Scarlett tallied a career-high 10 block assists.

UC Riverside will not hit the road for three straight matches, including this Sunday's battle with UC Davis. The team will then head south to see a tough pair of teams in Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara.

"It all starts at practice with us," Osuji said. "If you're as competitive in practice, as you are in the match, then nothing really changes about the way you play, even when you go on the road. Continuing working hard is what is going to give us the momentum."