UCI trio make All-Big West first team

UC Irvine junior outside hitter Kari Pestolesi highlights four Anteaters recognized All-Big West Conference in women’s volleyball.

Pestolesi, junior outside hitter Juliane Piggott, and senior setter Taryn Robertson were first-team honorees after helping UCI tie for second place in the Big West.

Kristin Winkler, a libero, was named to the All-Freshmen team.

Pestolesi, a three-time first-team honoree, ranked third in the conference in aces, fourth in kills and sixth in digs. Heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against TCU, the 5-foot-11 Pestolesi leads the ’Eaters with 415 kills and is averaging 3.81 per set.

Her 41 aces also lead the team and her 424 digs are second on the team, behind Winkler’s 463.

Pestolesi, who was the conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2007, has earned MVP honors at three tournaments this season.

Piggott, a 6-2 Corona del Mar High product in her first season at UCI after transferring from UCLA, has 348 kills, 195 digs and 26 aces.

Robertson ranks second in the conference in assists per set (11.02) and ranks second on UCI’s all-time assists list with 4,851. At 5-11, she has also been an effective attacker and blocker this season.

Winkler ranks third in the conference with 4.21 digs per set and is second among UCI players with 28 aces.

The Anteaters are 22-7 heading into the clash with TCU, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Long Beach State’s Pyramid.

— From staff reports