Nov. 20, 2009
Irvine, Calif. - Kari Pestolesi blasted a match-high 16 kills, hit .343, and tallied 18 digs to lead UC Irvine to a Big West Conference volleyball win over visiting Cal State Fullerton, 3-0, Friday night in the Bren Center.
Fullerton hung in the match all three sets but were unable to thwart Irvine's offense late in each set. The 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 victory jumped Irvine's record to 22-6, 11-5. Fullerton fell to 16-12, 7-8.
Pestolesi's double-double paced the floor in both categories, while Juliane Piggott added 11 kills and 10 digs to help the Anteaters to a .256 team attack percentage.
Fullerton was led by freshman Kayla Neto who scored 10 kills (.292) and two service aces in the loss. Senior Alex Wolnisty added nine kills and hit .333 on the night despite Fullerton hitting just .157 as a team. Both Neto and Wolnisty came into the week in the Big West's Top 10 in attack percentage.
Fullerton libero Cami Croteau scooped up 21 digs to lead all players and move to within 56 digs of tying the Cal State Fullerton career record.
Irvine out-blocked Fullerton 7.0 to 6.0 led by Alexandra Houser (3 block assists) and Piggott (2 block asssits and a solo). Fullerton junior Erin Saddler had two solos and senior Deven Bukoski added a solo and an assist.
The Titans, who have already clinched a winning season, have two more games on the 2009 docket with the opportunity to tie the school record of 18 wins in a season. They will face UC Riverside on Saturday night in Riverside, and then will face UNLV at Long Beach State next weekend (Nov. 28). Tomorrow nights game will begin at 7 p.m. The UNLV match will begin at 5 p.m.