MOSCOW, Idaho - UC Riverside opened the 2023 season and year two of the Nicky Cannon era on Friday night at the Idaho Volleyball Classic, falling 3-1 to North Dakota State inside Memorial Gym. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Makena Tong opened the evening with a set-high 11 assists in the opening frame - already two shy of a career high - to go along with an ace and a dig. Anya Green and Hunter Thomas each tallied four kills in set one. 
• UCR found its legs in set two with a 9-5 lead out of the brief intermission after a kill from Tong led North Dakota State to call for time. The Highlanders held a nearly wire-to-wire lead in set two until NDSU pulled ahead, 11-10. 
• Sophia Ewalefo put the finishing kill on set two as UCR tied the match with a .333 hitting clip in the second frame. UCR hit .286 in set three, but dropped a narrow 25-23 decision to fall behind 2-1. 
• Ewalefo led the attack once more with seven kills in set four. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Tylee Fuller, Sydnee Rowe, Brooklyn Wiedenheft and Sophia Ewalefo all were named to the starting lineup in their UCR debuts. Ewalefo finished the night with a match-high 22 kills. 
• Makena Tong put up a career-high 49 assists in the season opener, reaching the mark in set two on a kill from Anya Green. 
• UCR's second-set win was a clinic on both sides of the net, as the Highlanders' .333 hitting clip countered North Dakota State's .069.

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside is back at the Idaho Volleyball Classic on Saturday night for a 6:00 p.m. first serve against Seattle.