IRVINE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened Big West play on Friday night at the Bren Events Center with a 3-0 defeat to UC Irvine. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team gave an inch out of the opening serve in Friday night's Big West opener for both schools. Ana Beatriz Nunes was the early leader for the Highlanders with three of UCR's first 10 kills at the media break, but UCI took set one in a close 25-22 battle. 
• UC Riverside struggled to catch up to the Anteaters in set two, falling behind 10-2 before splitting the next 10 points with UCI down the middle and calling for time down 15-7. 
• The Highlanders were more evenly-matched in set three, taking a brief 5-4 lead on a kill from Coco Ikpe. UCR later tied the set at 14 on a kill from Sophia Ewalefo just before the media break. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Delaney Tate entered conference play ranked in the top five in the Big West in attacks, and was continually fed on Friday with a match-high 36 swings while recording eight kills, an assist, four digs and a block assist. 
• Anya Green recorded her first career multi-ace outing with two in Irvine.

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside continues Big West play on Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton on ESPN+.