TUCSON, Ariz. –The Highlanders battled back at the Wildcat Classic to finish Friday by winning three straight sets, defeating Texas Southern – 18-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-13 – after getting beaten by host Arizona in straight sets earlier in the day.
 
The Highlanders (4-5, 0-0 Big West) were led libero Mia Christensen, whose 32 digs against Texas Southern (1-10, 0-0 SWAC) rank among the nation's most (T7) in a four-set match this year; and opposite hitter Ayanna Kimbrough, who swung for a combined .422 hitting percentage across two matches, with 16 kills and a .609 hitting percentage against the Tigers.
 
After hitting just .107 as a team against Arizona (6-3, 0-0 Pac-12) to start the day, UCR improved with a .220 team hitting percentage as they earned Friday's split, putting momentum on the Highlanders' side entering Saturday's meeting with San Diego State to complete the Wildcat Classic.
 
Saturday's meeting with  the Aztecs is the final regular-season nonconference match on UCR's schedule. After the neutral-site contest against SDSU, UC Riverside returns to SRC Arena to host the Big West Conference opener vs. UC Davis Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., followed by Hawai'i Thursday, Sept. 23, also at 7 p.m. in SRC Arena.
 
See the latest 2021 fall sports admission policy to plan attendance at SRC Arena and all Highlander Athletics venues.