WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
UC Irvine def. Pacific
IRVINE — Sophomore Kari Pestolesi stepped up with a season-high 19 kills to lead the Anteaters to a 25-17, 15-25, 25-21, 25-15 victory that moved UCI into second place in the Big West Conference Saturday night.
The Anteaters (14-11, 9-3 in conference) are in second place after Cal Poly’s five-set loss to conference leader Long Beach State (10-2) Saturday night. The Mustangs dropped to 8-4 in conference, while the Pacific Tigers fell to 9-14, 8-5.
UCI used an 11.5-5 block advantage to secure the win.
Junior Chelsea Ellis led the Anteaters’ defensive effort with a match-high five block assists while freshman Alexandra Hauser and Pestolesi added four apiece. UCI also out-dug the Tigers with five Anteaters hitting double-digits with senior Lauren Kellerman posting a team-high 15.
Pestolesi picked up 13 digs. The outside hitter pounded a .341 average, committing just four errors in 44 attempts. Junior setter Taryn Robertson put together another solid match, posting 44 assists, 10 digs, seven kills and two block assists. Kellerman put away 12 kills while firing a service ace and delivering two block assists.
Senior libero Devon Sutherland totaled two winners from the baseline while adding 12 digs.
UCI plays at Long Beach State Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Fresno Pacific def.
Vanguard
COSTA MESA — The visiting Sunbirds, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, posted a 25-19, 25-14, 21-25, 25-21, Golden State Athletic Conference victory Saturday at The Pit.
No. 16-ranked Vanguard (15-8, 10-8 in conference) was led by junior outside hitter Heather DeJongh, who had 13 kills.
Kelsey Wirt added 10 kills and 14 digs for the Lions, who received 37 assists from Meghan Walsh.
FPU improved to 27-0, 18-0.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Orange Coast 48,
Santa Ana 41
SANTA BARBARA — Sophomore Casey Gomez scored 11 points to lead the Pirates, who advanced to today’s championship game at the Santa Barbara tournament.
Freshman Daisy Bueno and Melissa Mahi added nine points each, while freshman Samantha Harrell added seven points for OCC (2-0), which will play in the title game tonight at 6.
Santa Barbara tournament
Semifinal
Orange Coast 48, Santa Ana 41
OCC – Gomez 11, Bueno 9, Mahi 9, Harrell 7, Alfafara 4, Simmons 2, Murray 2, Lujan 2, Ibbotson 2.
3-pt. goals – Gomez 3, Alfafara 1, Mahi 1, Bueno 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
