RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside played a fierce five-set match in its first home contest in almost three weeks, forcing falling just short to Long Beach State at the SRC Arena on Thursday evening.
Two of UCR's three Big West contests in the Inland Empire have now gone a full five sets.
UC Riverside and the Beach split sets one and two on Thursday and the Highlanders looked to control set three as well, but Long Beach came roaring back to take the 2-1 lead. UCR used five of its 12 blocks in the second set to tie the match at one apiece, as Isabella Scarlett led the Highlanders with four blocks as part of a stat-studded evening.
Scarlett recorded career kill number 500 on the night as part of a 12-kill outing against Long Beach State, the junior's second straight 10-kill performance and third of Big West competition. The junior did a little bit of everything for the Highlanders on the night with an added two assists, two aces and four digs.
Mylei Vargas-Deason joined Scarlett in double-digit kill company with 14 to go along with an assist, an ace and 11 digs for her fourth double double of the year. Tayler Hifo recorded double double number eight on the season with 43 assists and a team-high 20 digs.
Jessica Dean started in the back row and delivered a quality performance for UC Riverside, turning in 19 digs and an assist.
UC Riverside reached the 40-kill mark in set four for the fourth time in Big West action and second straight after 69 in a streak-breaking 3-1 win at CSUN. UCR fittingly closed off a drama-packed fourth set with a 5-0 run to force a decisive fifth for the fourth time in 2022 and second in conference play.
UCR found itself down early in set five akin to the Big West-opening win over UC San Diego, but it wasn't meant to be as Long Beach State closed out the Highlanders in a spirited fifth frame.
UC Riverside will continue its four-match homestand on Saturday, October 22 when the Highlanders welcome Cal State Fullerton to the SRC Arena. First serve is slated for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
