LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Highlanders fought into a tough four-setter Friday night at UC San Diego, falling to the Tritons at RIMAC Arena.
 
Amarachi Osuji served up a service ace to go with a dozen digs and 15 kills for UC Riverside, her 51 total attempts the eighth-most in a four-setter this season in the Big West Conference. Deja Bickers added 10 kills and Dejah Dade delivered a team-high 16 assists as the Highlanders (4-9, 0-3 Big West) averted a sweep in the third set, winning it 25-23 before being defeated by UCSD (5-9, 2-1 Big West).
 
Friday was the first meeting between UC Riverside and UC San Diego since Sept. 16, 1997. The previous two meetings both went to five sets. The last win for UC Riverside over UC San Diego came at SRC Arena in in straight sets on Sept. 16, 1994.
 
The Highlanders are right back into competition at UC Irvine, where UCR takes on the Anteaters at 5 p.m. Saturday.