RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside (5-10, 1-4 Big West) battled on Thursday evening with first place Long Beach State (12-4, 5-0 Big West), but dropped a tough 3-0 decision at the SRC Arena. 

UCR came out inspired against the conference leaders and forced a Beach timeout behind three early kills from McKynzee Beddes. The Highlanders also forced four attack errors to hold a 13-10 lead before Long Beach State found its rhythm through the end of the set victory. 

UC Riverside claimed a 6-2 set two lead to force a Long Beach State timeout. The Beach called for a breather after committing four straight attack errors, three of which Layla Hooks assisted on a block towards. 

Hooks was the driving force behind UCR's 12 block assists, its fourth most of the season. 

Makena Tong continued UCR's momentum with an emphatic cross court kill to make it 8-3. Momentum traded sides of the net throughout the set, and the Highlanders tied set two at 18 apiece after a kill from Izzy Jeffery. Now hitting an impressive .333 for the set, UCR forced another Long Beach State timeout after Mia Delahoussaye put down her eighth kill for the slim 19-18 lead. 

Delahoussaye recorded her first double-digit kill outing of Big West play with a team-high 11. 

The Highlanders caused concern for Long Beach State at the end of set two, and enjoyed their best hitting clip of the match at .300 (17-5-40). 

UCR found points here and there in set three, starting with a Tong ace to open the set. The senior put down a cross-court kill to cut into a 14-6 deficit, and UC Riverside later capitalized on a Long Beach State service error and a block assist from Jeffery and Sophia Ewalefo. 

UC Riverside returns to the court on Saturday for a 4:00 pm matchup against UC San Diego. Tickets are available now at GoHighlanders.com/tickets.