RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside dropped a 3-0 decision to Cal Poly on Saturday afternoon at the SRC Arena. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UC Riverside fell in set one, 25-9, as Mylei Vargas-Deason paced the Highlanders with three kills in the opening frame. UCR played a more competitive second set with Vargas-Deason putting down an early ace to keep the Highlanders within a point early and set the tone.
• UCR clawed its way back into the match in set three with a 5-1 run, thanks to a pair of kills from Ana Beatriz Nunes. Anya Green later tied things up at 15 with a kill at the right pin. 
• Sydnee Rowe forced Cal Poly to call for time once more after her fourth kill of the match put the Highlanders ahead 19-17. 
• UCR kept making it interesting, bringing on set point on block assists from Green and Beatriz Nunes before the Mustangs sealed off the win. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Vargas-Deason led UC Riverside with nine kills on Saturday afternoon, and after augmenting that with five digs, is now one shy of 500 for her career. 
• Rowe generated three of her six kills in set three to help UCR maintain a strong push towards a fourth set. 
• Beatriz Nunes led the Highlanders with a .286 hitting percentage, recording three kills on seven swings to go with two block assists. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is back on the road next weekend for another pair of Big West matches, starting on Friday, October 13 with a 7:00 p.m. first serve at UC San Diego on ESPN+.