{"id":499019,"date":"2026-10-17T07:48:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499019\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T07:48:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:48:57","slug":"pekrul-leads-anteaters-to-3-1-win-at-bakersfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499019\/","title":{"rendered":"Pekrul Leads Anteaters to 3-1 Win at Bakersfield"},"content":{"rendered":"

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team bounced back from a tough second set and a lengthy delay in the third to take down Cal State Bakersfield, 25-18, 7-25, 26-24, 25-19, Friday evening at the Icardo Center.
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\nAfter splitting the first two sets, the Anteaters were up in the third when a scorekeeping delay halted their momentum. The Roadrunners took advantage by turning the tables with an 18-12 lead, but UCI found its footing and quickly went back on top with seven-straight points. It proceeded to go back-and-forth until CSUB made a late push for set point at 24-22. The ‘Eaters had an answer once again, scoring the next four to take the 26-24 win. This time, UC Irvine didn’t leave any doubt as it never trailed in the fourth and final frame.
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\nSophomore Abby Pekrul<\/a> led the way with a career-high 10 kills on .381 hitting. She also had a match-high nine blocks (2 solo, 7 block assists). Fifth-year Kendra MacDonald<\/a> added a season-best nine kills, while freshman Taylor Boice<\/a> had seven.
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\nSenior setter Nicole Feliciano<\/a> produced another impressive all-around performance with 16 assists, eight digs, seven kills, and six blocks. She recorded her 1,000th career dig with her second of the night. Sophomore setter Angelina Dellutri<\/a> also dished out 20 assists to go along with nine digs and a career-high four aces. Junior libero Whitney Wallace<\/a> scooped up a match-high tying 18 digs.
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\nSuelen Lima paced the ‘Runners with 14 kills, 18 digs, and five blocks.
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\nHOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (7-11, 5-2 Big West) raced out to an 11-4 lead in the first set. The Anteaters stayed out front and went up 17-9 on a double block by Pekrul and Memphis Burnett<\/a>. The ‘Eaters continued to roll as they closed it out at 25-18 on Pekrul’s fifth kill.
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\nCal State Bakersfield (8-11, 3-4 Big West) broke a 4-4 tie in the second with six consecutive points. The Roadrunners were in the driver’s seat the rest of the way, cruising to the 25-7 victory.
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\nUCI regrouped at the break, taking an 8-4 advantage after back-to-back kills from Feliciano and MacDonald in the third frame. The ‘Runners cut the deficit in half at 9-7 and after a 20-plus minute delay due to technical difficulties with the scorekeeping program, the home team went on an 11-3 run to pull ahead, 18-12. The Anteaters punched back with a 7-0 stretch, capped by a Dellutri ace, for a 19-18 edge. A seesaw battle ensued with three ties before Bakersfield reeled off three-straight to take set point at 24-22. UC Irvine refused to quit as a pair of kills from Boice bookended a 4-0 rally for the 26-24 win.
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\nThe ‘Eaters remained in control in set four where they went on top, 12-3. Cal State Bakersfield chipped away, closing the gap to three at 17-14, but behind the strong serving of Dellutri, UCI went on a 4-0 spurt to increase its cushion to seven. The Anteaters sided out down the stretch with a MacDonald kill eventually sealing the set and match at 25-19.
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\nUP NEXT: UC Irvine heads to CSUN for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Matadors on Saturday, Oct. 17.
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\nNOTES
\n\u2022 UCI remained in a tie for second in the Big West standings.
\n\u2022 Nicole Feliciano<\/a> joined head coach Ashlie Hain<\/a> as the only two Anteaters in program history with 2,000+ assists and 1,000+ digs.
\n\u2022 Whitney Wallace<\/a> has reached double digits in digs in 15 consecutive matches.
\n\u2022 Fifteen of 17 ‘Eaters played in tonight’s match.
\n\u2022 UC Irvine improved to 11-4 in its all-time series with CSUB.
\n\u2022 UCI has also won five-straight in Bakersfield with their last road loss to the ‘Runners coming in 2021.<\/p>\n

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