RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside continued its Big West campaign on Thursday night inside the SRC Arena with a 3-0 loss to UC Irvine. 

UCR overcame adversity out of the gate, using its blocking to take an 11-9 lead after falling behind 5-0. The persistence paid off with a 3-0 run late in the set that sprung life to UCR and forced an Anteater timeout. Rachel Schwartz grabbed five of UC Riverside's eight set one assists while the Highlanders spread 20 digs across six players. 

McKynzee Beddes entered in set two and headlined UCR's second set comeback with an ace before Schwartz set up Sophia Ewalefo for a kill. UCR regained serve, and a 4-0 run on consecutive Irvine errors put the Highlanders within one at 23-22 before Irvine took the set. 

The Highlanders came out with more firepower in set three. Layla Hooks tied the match with a ferocious block at 6-6, and UCR went ahead at 7-6 on Ewalefo's eighth kill. 

Ewalefo and Nikki Hughes combined for 11 of UCR's 14 kills in set three to lead a spirited effort. The Highlanders squeezed ahead, 20-19, on a kill from Hughes, before UCI took the match. Set three featured 12 ties and six lead changes in the extra play period.  

The Highlanders have a quick turnaround, hosting Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at the SRC Arena. First serve is scheduled for 4:00 pm on ESPN+, and tickets are available now at GoHighlanders.com/tickets.