Pestolesi was named Big West Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big West Conference.
She finished 17th with partner Olivia Waldowski at the 2008 World University Beach Volleyball Championships in Hamburg, Germany as a member of Team USA and she partnered with Devon Sutherland to win the Big West Beach Tournament during this summer.
Senior outside hitter Lauren Kellerman, a first-team conference selection, also returns. She posted 446 kills and a 3.88 per-game average in her junior campaign. Kellerman was second with 34 service aces and had 66 blocks.
Setter Taryn Robertson and Sutherland, a libero, are also back after receiving honorable mention in all-conference voting.
Robertson, a junior this season, ranks third at UCI in career assists. She had 1,431 assists and averaged 12.34 per game last season.
Sutherland, a senior, became UCI’s all-time career digs leader last season, accumulating 1,302. She had 553 digs in 2007.
UCI also returns 6-foot-3 junior middle blocker Chelsea Ellis, who ended the season as the conference’s best hitter with a .371 hitting percentage. Ellis had 191 kills and her 107 blocks rank first among returners.
The Anteaters were 21-11 last season, posting their fourth winning season. UCI was third in the conference at 15-6, its best Big West finish since 2003.
UCI plays 13 of its first 14 matches on the road and opens the season at the San Diego State Tournament, Aug. 29-30. The Anteaters take on the host Aztecs Aug. 29 and will also face San Diego and Albany in tournament action.
— From staff reports
