UCR Volleyball Signs Three to National Letters of Intent

(Nov. 23, 2005) -The UC Riverside Highlanders have signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, Head Coach Sue Gozansky announced Wednesday. Joining the program in 2006-07 are outside hitters Angela Pizzella, Dominique Cowling and Tonbara Youpele.

Pizzella is a 6-0 outside hitter from Willow Glen High School in San Jose, CA. In 2005 she helped lead the Rams to a league championship, winning the teams' best offensive player award and most valuable player honors, as well as first team all-league honors. She also competed in cross country and track and field, leading those teams to league championships as well. She plays for the City Beach Volleyball Club.

"Angela is a great all-around athlete who can play all over the floor," Gozansky said. "She is very quick and has good jumping ability."

Cowling is a 5-8 outside hitter from Benicia High School in Benicia, CA. She helped lead the Panthers to four consecutive Solano County Athletic Conference championships between 2002 and 2004 and earned league MVP honors in 2004 and 2005. She is a four-time all-league honoree. She played for the Golden Bear Volleyball Club and is a former teammate of current Highlanders Raquel Salinas and Brittney Murrey and also competed in track in high school.

"Dominique is an outside hitter, has a 34" jump, plays all-around front and back row," Gozansky said. "She is a flashy player, dynamic hitter, and really makes things happen."

Youpele is a 5-8 middle blocker from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, CA, where she helped the team to San Andreas League Co-Championships in 2004 and 2005. She earned team MVP and All-League honors as a junior. She also played basketball and competed in track and field and played for the San Bernardino Storm Volleyball Club.

"Tonbara is a great athlete who has only been playing volleyball for three years," Gozansky said. "She could play both middle and outside, she is extremely quick and has a very good vertical jump."

"We will have a young team next year and everyone will be competing for a spot," Gozansky said. "Our new recruits have some flexibility in what positions they can play. They are all young and talented and have a great opportunity to become big contributors. I hope it happens right away, as the better they are the better we'll be as a team. It depends on their work ethic, drive, determination and competitiveness."

Highlanders Reload for 2006 With Young Talent

(Aug. 21, 2006) -As the 2005 women’s volleyball season came to an end last November, it marked the end of an era. The trio of senior outside hitters Valerie Bueno and Jamie DeKiewiet and senior setter Kym Murphy were among the best players to ever take the court for the Highlanders. They left their mark in the record books, helping the Highlanders to their first winning record in the Division I era while moving into the top-10 in several individual season and career categories.

With the end of that era comes a new challenge for Head Coach Sue Gozansky, that is building the foundation of a new team that will be able to take the Highlanders to the next level. It won’t be easy, as the Highlanders will be a very young team, with as many as eight freshmen fighting seven returners for time.

“It will be a year of change, but that in itself is not a bad thing,” Gozansky said. “We will have a young team this year, but really that means that everyone will have the opportunity to step up and shine. There is no telling who might be the next Jamie DeKiewiet, Kym Murphy or Valerie Bueno.”

But, Gozansky added, there are no sure things.

“Every position in the starting lineup is up for grabs, and I am looking forward to seeing a great competition for playing time,” Gozansky said. “The best seven players will be seeing the most time. Period.”

“We have more offensive options with the ability to run both a 5-1 and a 6-2,” she said.

The Highlanders have the most depth and experience in the middle, with the return of senior Janiece Manuel and junior Angie Mitchell. Manuel has been a regular since moving into the starting line-up midway through her freshman year, and has been fairly consistent, with a .197 hitting percentage and a 2.15 points per game average in each of the last two years.

“In the past, Janiece has been more of a role player in our offense, as most of our attack had been directed towards the outside,” Gozansky said. “She has a big swing and has had matches in which she really turned the tide in our favor. This season, she will be given the opportunity to be a primary option in the attack.”

The same can be said for Mitchell, who may be the Highlanders’ most athletic player. She is coming off a strong season in which she hit a team-high .282 and averaged .186 kills per game. Her 0.77 blocks per game were second on the team, and she led the squad in total blocks with 69 and solo blocks with 15. She has the opportunity to become the most potent middle-hitter since the graduation of Rosanna Parizek in 2003.

“Angie can hit the ball straight down. She has a great vertical leap and can be an intimidator. She has shown the skills and desire to raise her game to the next level,” Gozansky said. “ This could be a break-out season for her.”
The middles will get some additional support from newcomers Tonbara Youpele, Angela Pizzela and Kelley Quinn.

At 6-1, Quinn is the tallest of the newcomers with experience on both the outside and the middle, where she could make an imposing wall with Manuel and Mitchell. Pizzela is an athletic six-footer who can play the whole game.

“Angela is a leader, the kind of player that you can really build around,” Gozansky said. “She comes from successful high school and club programs. She knows how to win.”

Youpele is the smallest of the group at 5-8, but has outstanding quickness and vertical leap.

“She is a great athlete, and has only been playing volleyball for three years,” Gozansky said. “She could play in the middle or on the outside. I think people might underestimate her early on, but that would be a big mistake.”

At hitter, senior Ashley Halperin has her first opportunity to be a primary attacker for the team and, with her strong vertical leap, much is expected from her. She is the Highlanders’ top returning defender (1.97 digs per game in 2005) and second best returning scorer (2.23 points per game),

“Ashley has played well in a support role in the past, but is now a primary passer and hitter and we need her to really step up this year. She improved tremendously throughout the 2005 season and will be a big weapon in this year’s offense,” Gozansky said. “She has a big swing and hits the ball hard, and could be in the running for all-conference honors. She is a solid all-around player and is a great leader.”

Sophomores Amy Read and Raquel Salinas are the other two returners, with Read joining Halperin on the right or left and Salinas slated to hit from the right side. Read played very sparingly in 2005, appearing in 19 games over 12 matches, hitting.068 and averaging 1.26 points per game. Salinas also saw limited action with 22 games over 13 matches, but also played well, averaging 1.45 points and a team-high 0.91 blocks per game while hitting .275 on the season.

“Both Raquel and Amy will be given every opportunity to start,” Gozansky said. “We gave them the opportunity to get their feet wet in 2005, and they worked hard in the Spring season to get ready for 2006. They have seen what it takes to succeed at this level, and now it is up to them.”

Redshirt freshman Kellie DeKiewiet suffered from some nagging injuries during her first year in the program, but did show some signs of development, Gozansky said. She will be competing for a rightside hitting position.
Sophomore Laura Eck also returns, but is a big question mark as she suffers from a chronic back problem that limits her ability to play. “We gave her the spring off to rehab and told her we wanted to have her back in the Fall. It is up to her and her back to see if she will be able to contribute. I hope she will,” Gozansky said.

Dominique Cowling comes to the Highlanders with a 37” vertical leap, great quickness and a reputation as a great all-around athlete.

“She is a flashy player and a dynamic hitter. She really makes things happen,” Gozansky said.

Freshman Lisa Buchicchio also will make her debut for the Highlanders. She is another talented all-around player who adds depth to the Highlanders’ game.

UCR enters the season with no setters with a regular season collegiate game under their belts, but redshirt freshman Brittney Murrey has already received raves for her play in the spring which showcased her superb athleticism, blocking skills and outstanding hands. Murrey will lead the Highlanders in a 5-1 offense.

“What Brittney lacks in experience she makes up in pure physical ability,” Gozansky said. “She has great strength at the net and in the backcourt, and the ‘sweetest’ hands in the Big West Conference.”

Behind Murrey are true freshmen Kayla Roth, Kelsey Stevens and Amanda Nilsson also looking for time. Each have high school and club experience under their belts at setter as well as the “desire to play tough defense in the back court.”

“Brittney worked hard throughout the spring and got most the reps at the position. I’m sure there will be some butterflies early on, but she has the skills to succeed. Plus, her size will give us some extra punch on our block,” Gozansky said. “Roth, Stevens and Nilsson are all talented and will be hungry for the chance to succeed. I think there will be spirited competition in practice that will contribute to a stronger team.”

The libero position is an open competition. Frontrunners include freshman defensive specialist Jessica DeLeon, the crop of freshman setters, Roth, Stevens and Nilsson, though Gozansky said that anyone on the team could earn the spot.

“We have a very talented group of athletes coming in, and many will be on the heels of the returners,” Gozansky said. “We will be a young team and we will probably have some growing pains. Hopefully we will be able to learn a lot in the early going, which will carry us over to the Big West campaign.”

UCR will open 2006 on the road at the Hilton Albuquerque Volleyball Classic at the University of New Mexico on August 25-26, followed by tournament appearances at the University of Denver on September 1-2 and Sacramento State on September 8-9. Following a scrimmage with nearby Cal Baptist as a warm-up on September 14, UCR will open the home schedule on September 16 with a match against UNLV.

“This is the toughest pre-season schedule that we have had in the Division I era. We will be playing strong teams with high RPI ratings. It will be tough, but it will make us better. This year is all about growth and improvement.”
From there they go straight into Big West play, playing their first five conference battles on the road, interrupted only by a home match with UC Davis on September 30. The Highlanders then play their next six conference games at home, beginning with Pacific on October 13, Northridge on October 14, UC Irvine on October 20, and Long Beach State on October 21. The Highlanders will once again interrupt the conference schedule with a non-conference game with UC Davis before hosting UCSB on November 3 and Cal Poly on November 4. The home season wraps up on November 17 as the Highlanders host Cal State Fullerton.

“The schedule is kind of tough in the middle, but it will be nice to have a long run at home towards the end of the season,” Gozansky said. “With any luck we will take advantage of playing at home down the stretch run.”

Stephen F. Austin Hands UCR Season Opening Loss

(Aug. 25, 2006) - Stephen F. Austin University put a damper on the UC Riverside Highlanders' season opening match with a 30-21, 30-28, 30-13 win at the Hilton Albuquerque Tournament at the University of New Mexico Friday. UCR falls to 0-1.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin (Apple Valley, CA) led the Highlanders with eight kills. UCR hit -.019 in the match (24 kills, 26 errors, 103 attempts). For the Ladyjacks, Traci Rohde and Shelly Swendig each had nine kills.

Game one was close in the early going, with the Ladyjacks holding a 13-12 lead. But SFA ran off seven straight points and never looked back in the 30-21 win.

UCR led early in Game 2, building a 16-10 lead, but the Ladyjacks came back to tie the match. It was tied at 22-22, but UCR scored four of the next five points to make it 26-23. However, UCR could get no closer, as the 'Jacks scored the final seven points of the match to post the win.

Game three was all SFA, as they cruised to a 30-13 win to take the match.

Highlanders Lose Two at UNM Tournament

(Aug. 26, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders fell to 0-3 on the season with a pair of losses at the Hilton Albuquerque Classic Tournament Saturday. The Highlanders dropped the first game of the day to host New Mexico, 31-29, 30-15, 30-25. In the afternoon match, the Highlanders lost to former Big West rival Utah State, 30-26, 30-21, 30-25.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin had 13 kills in the Highlanders' loss to New Mexico. UCR hit .088 for the match (38-28-114). Brittney Murrey had 21 assists for the Highlanders. Allison Suiter led the Lobos with 12 kills and hit a match-high .526.

In the loss to Utah State, senior Janiece Manuel led the Highlanders with 11 kills, hitting .368 (11-4-19) on the match, while Halperin added eight kills. Utah State's Amanda Nielson had a match-high 20 kills.

Overall, UCR hit -.034 (30-34-117) for the match, while Utah State hit .138 (45-27-130).

Following the tournament, Manuel was named to the All-Tournament Team. She hit .216 on the weekend with 21 kills and nine blocks.

Highlanders Fall in Five to Northern Arizona

(Sept. 1, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders fell to 0-4 on the season as they dropped a 3-2 decision to Northern Arizona University at the University of Denver Tournament Friday.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin had a career-high 22 kills and junior middle Angie Mitchell had 14 kills. Senior middle Janiece Manuel had nine kills, as did sophomore hitter Amy Read.

The Highlanders lost game one 35-33, but came back to take games two and three 30-27 and 30-22. However the Lumberjacks came back to take game four, 30-21, and won the clincher, 15-12. NAU improved to 3-1 on the season.

UCR Loses Two at Denver Tournament

(Sept. 2, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders lost a pair of games at the University of Denver tournament on Saturday. The Highlanders opened the day with a three game loss to Bowling Green, 30-26, 30-21, 30-24. Then, in the final match of the day against the host Bears, the Highlanders won the first game, 30-26, but saw Denver come back to take the match, 3-1, with 24-30, 16-30, 21-30 wins.

UCR falls to 0-6 on the season.

In the match with Bowling Green, senior hitter Ashley Halperin led the Highlanders with 11 kills and junior middle Angie Mitchell had nine. As a team, UCR hit .085 on the match (36-26-118). Bowling Green hit .209 (45-21-115) and was led by Corey Domek's 15 kills and .458 hitting percentage.

In the night cap, Halperin had a team-high 19 kills and hit .279, but was the only Highlander in double figures. Mitchell and senior middle Janiece Manuel each had eight kills. UCR hit .120 on the match (50-31-158), while Denver hit .307 (70-23-153). The Bears' Lisa Hunter led all players with 24 kills.

Highlanders Get First Win Over Syracuse

(Sept. 8, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders women's volleyball team earned their first win of the season with a 3-2 win over Syracuse University at the Sacramento State Tournament Friday. Earlier in the day UCR fell to Western Kentucky, 3-0.

UCR is now 1-7 on the season.

The Highlanders got their first win of the year over Syracuse, posting a 30-17, 26-30, 30-26, 24-30, 15-11 victory. Senior hitter Ashley Halperin (Apple Valley, CA) had a team-high 15 kills and a match-high five service aces. Junior middle Angie Mitchell (Palmdale, CA) added 13 kills, hitting .357 (13-3-28). UCR hit .194 on the match (60-29-160). Redshirt freshman setter Brittney Murrey (El Cerrito, CA) had 43 assists.

Earlier in the day, WKU posted a 30-16, 30-28, 30-23 win behind 15 kills by Megan Argabright, who hit .480 on the match (15-3-25). Senior middle Janiece Manuel (Seeley, CA) led UCR with 11 kills and Mitchell added eight kills against just one error, hitting .412 on the match. Murrey had 23 assists for the Highlanders.

Highlanders Fall to USF, Sacramento State at Tournament

(Sept. 9, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders women's volleyball team lost two matches at the Sacramento State Tournament on Saturday. The Highlanders fell to the University of San Francisco, 30-20, 30-28, 30-28 in the opener, then lost to the host Hornets, 30-20, 28-30, 30-15, 30-25.

The Highlanders are now 1-9 on the season.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin (Apple Valley, CA) led the Highlanders with 12 kills and hit .328 (12-3-28) in the match, but was the only UCR player to reach double-figure kills. After falling behind 8-1 and eventually losing game one by 10 points, the Highlanders battled in games two and three before succumbing. UCR was up 26-24 in game two before USF rallied to outscore the Highlanders 6-2 to finish the game. In game three, UCR was up 27-26, but again the Dons rallied to post a 30-28 win.

Halperin pounded a game-high 21 kills and Angie Mitchell (Palmdale, CA) added 15 in the loss to the Hornets. UCR hit .082 in the match (55-40-182).

Highlanders Fall to UNLV

(Sept. 16, 2006) - The UNLV Rebels women's volleyball team posted a 3-0 win over the host UC Riverside Highlanders in a non-conference match at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday. The Rebels prevailed 30-20, 30-24, 30-25.

The Highlanders are now 1-10 on the season, while UNLV improved to 9-3.

UCR senior middle Janiece Manuel led all players with 15 kills and hit a solid .320 (15-7-25) on the night. Junior middle Angie Mitchell hit .389 (8-1-18) and freshman outside hitter Tonbi Youpele had nine kills. Overall, UCR hit .156 (41-24-109) in the match. UCR freshman Brittney Murrey had 33 assists.

UNLV had five players record at least six kills, led by hitter Lauren Miramontes, who hit .583, registering eight kills to just one error in 12 attempts.

DeKiewiet Back With US National Team for Mexico Tournament

(Sept. 20, 2006) - Former UC Riverside outside hitter Jamie DeKiewiet, the school's all time kills and attempts leader, is once again working with the United States National Team, as they prepare for their trip to Mexico to participate in the Azteca Cup, Sept. 24-29 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Dekiewiet played in 24 sets in Team USA’s tour of Italy and at Chicago in a contest against Poland on May 26. She recorded 40 points with 33 kills.

At UCR, DeKiewiet was a two time All-Big West First Team Honoree and a member of the 2006 CVU Stellar Spiker Honorable Mention squad. She ended her career as the school’s all-time leader in kills with 1,665 and total attacks with 4,232. She is one of four Highlanders to reach the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs mark over her career. In her senior season in 2005, she led the team in kills with 4.92 per game and was second on the squad with 3.63 digs per game. In 2004, she set the school record with 544 kills in a season.

The U.S. opens against Puerto Rico on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. CT, followed by preliminary matches against Canada on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. CT and Cuba on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. CT.

Matadors Topple Highlanders in Big West Opener

(Sept. 21, 2006) - The Cal State Northridge Matadors posted a 30-21, 30-27, 30-14 win over the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders in the Big West opener for both teams at the Matadome Thursday.

The Matadors improve to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big West. The loss drops the Highlanders to 1-11 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

UCR senior hitter Ashley Halperin knocked down a team-high nine kills and added 10 digs and sophomore hitter Amy Read added seven kills and four blocks. Redshirt freshman setter Brittney Murrey recorded 22 assists and nine digs in the loss. The Matadors hit .193 (40-18-114) as a team, while the Highlanders hit .000 (26-26-101). The Highlanders did post a 12.0 to 6.0 advantage in team blocks and had a slight 44-39 advantage in team digs.

Matador hitter Harmony Burdine knocked down a match-high 11 kills and hit .320. Darla Donaldson added eight kills and Angela Hupp and Val Kepler each chipped in seven kills.

Tigers Defeat Highlanders in Four Games

(Sept. 23, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders dropped a 3-1 decision at the University of Pacific in Stockton Saturday. The Tigers took the match, 30-22, 31-33, 30-23, 30-25. UOP improved to 3-10 overall and 1-1 in the Big West. UCR is now 1-12, 0-2.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin led the way for UC Riverside as she finished with 20 kills. Halperin also nabbed 18 digs for a double-double. Senior middle Janiece Manuel had 12 kills, nine blocks, including three solo blocks, and hit a team-high .321 (12-3-28). Freshman hitter Tonbi Youpele recorded a a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt freshman Brittney Murrey had 46 assists in the match.

UOP hitter Alexa Anderson recorded career-highs with 25 kills and 22 digs. Natalia Tomaszewska posted 14 kills, Johanna Hilbers finished with 13 kills and Meagan MimMack had 10 kills.

After losing game one, 30-22, the Highlanders rallied in game two, recording three solo blocks and five block assists to win five points. Tied at 31-31, junior middle Angie Mitchell punctuated the game for UC Riverside with back-to-back solo blocks to lift the Highlanders to a 33-31, sending the two teams into the break tied at 1-1. However, the Tigers prevailed in games three and four to take the match.

Tigers Defeat Highlanders in Four Games

(Sept. 24, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders dropped a 3-1 decision at the University of Pacific in Stockton Saturday. The Tigers took the match, 30-22, 31-33, 30-23, 30-25. UOP improved to 3-10 overall and 1-1 in the Big West. UCR is now 1-12, 0-2.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin led the way for UC Riverside as she finished with 20 kills. Halperin also nabbed 18 digs for a double-double. Senior middle Janiece Manuel had 12 kills, nine blocks, including three solo blocks, and hit a team-high .321 (12-3-28). Freshman hitter Tonbi Youpele recorded a a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Redshirt freshman Brittney Murrey had 46 assists in the match.

UOP hitter Alexa Anderson recorded career-highs with 25 kills and 22 digs. Natalia Tomaszewska posted 14 kills, Johanna Hilbers finished with 13 kills and Meagan MimMack had 10 kills.

After losing game one, 30-22, the Highlanders rallied in game two, recording three solo blocks and five block assists to win five points. Tied at 31-31, junior middle Angie Mitchell punctuated the game for UC Riverside with back-to-back solo blocks to lift the Highlanders to a 33-31, sending the two teams into the break tied at 1-1. However, the Tigers prevailed in games three and four to take the match.

Titans Defeat Highlanders in Three Games

(Sept. 28, 2006) - The host Cal State Fullerton Titans handed the UC Riverside Highlanders a 30-27, 30-19, 30-12 loss in a Big West Conference match at Titan Gym in Fullerton Thursday.

The Titans improved to 13-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big West, while UCR fell to 1-13, 0-3.

Senior hitter Janiece Manuel had a team-high eight kills for the Highlanders and junior middle Angie Mitchell added six. Overall, UCR hit .094 on the match (33-21-127). The Titans were led by Brittany Moore's match-high 15 kills, as she hit .367 on the night. Overall, Fullerton hit .285 (49-14-123).

UC Riverside Head Volleyball Coach Sue Gozansky to Be Inducted Into AVCA Hall of Fame

(Sept. 29, 2006) - It's been a long time coming, but UC Riverside Head Coach Sue Gozansky finally got the call Thursday as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that she would be one of seven individuals inducted into their Hall of Fame on December 13, 2006. The ceremony will be held during the AVCA Annual Convention during the NCAA Volleyball Final Four at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

"I am very humbled by this honor," Gozansky said. "I have always enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to teach and work with young people, so to be recognized for something that I have had such a great time doing is very special."
"We couldn't be happier for Sue Gozansky receiving this honor," Athletics Director Stan Morrison said. "She is an outstanding coach and teacher of young people and I am thrilled that she is being recognized for her efforts. She is one the finest coaching technicians, in any sport, that I have ever had the opportunity to know."

Gozansky is in her 37th season at UC Riverside and is the dean of the UCR coaching staff. She has the second longest tenure among volleyball coaches at the Division I level, trailing only UCLA Head Coach Andy Banachowski who has led the Bruins for 39 seasons. Gozansky sports a 665-462-16 record (as of September 29th) dating back to 1970. During that span, UCR has won three National Championships (the AIAW Small College Championship in 1977 and the Division II National Championships in 1982 and 1986) and had a streak of 20 straight playoff appearances.

The class of seven inductees includes Deborah Chin, Carol Dewey, Mick Haley, Michael Hebert, Sue Woodstra and John Zoltek. Inductees are nominated under one of four categories: coach/educator, administrator, player or organization.

Click here to read the AVCA press release.

Highlanders Win Thriller Over Davis, 3-2

Box Score vs. UC Davis

(Sept. 30, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders got a career-high 20 kills from freshman hitter Dominique Cowling and nine kills and career-high 10 blocks by junior hitter Angie Mitchell to help them to a thrilling, come-from-behind 30-19, 23-30, 15-30, 36-34, 15-9 win over visiting UC Davis in a non-conference match in front of 301 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday.

The Highlanders improved to 2-13. The Aggies are now 2-14.

Cowling had a breakout match, hitting .302 (20-4-53) and registering 16 digs. Senior middle Janiece Manuel had 11 kills and six blocks. Senior hitter Ashley Halperin had 14 kills and 20 digs. Mitchell registered three solo blocks and seven assists to go with her nine kills. Overall, the Highlanders hit .216 (67-27-185). Redshirt freshman setter Brittney Murrey had 52 assists.

"This was a great night for Dominique," UCR Head Coach Sue Gozansky said. "She really played well tonight. Angie Mitchell's work on the block was also outstanding."

For the Aggies, Chantal Paschetta led the way with 16 kills. The Aggies hit .151 (67-37-199) on the match.

UCR hit .333 in game one (17-3-42), with Murrey spreading the kills around en route to 14 assists. Mitchell and Manuel each had four kills and Halperin and Cowling each added three. UCR led 11-8, but used a 6-1 run to buld the margin to 17-9. The would pull away down the stretch for a 30-19 win.

But the Aggies bounced right back in game two, turning a 15-14 UCR lead into a 19-15 advantage. UCR got back within two at 21-19, but could get no closer as the Aggies hit .310 (19-6-42) in the 30-23 win.

The Aggies jumped out to a big lead in game three and cruised to a 30-15 win over the Highlanders. The Aggies hit .312 (13-3-32) compared to UCR's .194 (11-5-31).

In game four the Highlanders jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but the Aggies rallied to cut the lead to three at 15-12. UCR built up the lead again to 28-21, only to see the Aggies come roaring back to score take a 29-28 lead. The teams traded sideouts and the Highlanders took a 33-32 lead on a block by Mitchell and Cowling, only to see the Aggies answer back with a sideout and block of their own to make it 34-33. But UCR came back again behind a kill from Cowling to tie it at 34-34, then finished the match with a flourish one point later as Murrey and Mitchell blocked Britt Erickson for a thrilling 36-34 win.

Game five saw the Highlanders jump out to a 6-3 lead, then hold that margin through 10-7. The Highlanders scored twice out of a UC Davis timeout to go up by five at 12-7, then costed home to a 15-9 win on a service error and attack error by the Aggies.

Highlanders Fall to No. 20 Cal Poly in Three

(Oct. 6, 2006) - The No. 20 ranked Cal Poly Mustangs posted a 30-22, 30-19, 30-22 win over the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders in a Big West contest at Mott Gym in San Luis Obispo Friday.

The Highlanders are now 2-14, 0-4, while the Mustangs improved to 12-4, 4-0.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin and senior middle Janiece Manuel each had eight kills as UCR hit .106 (33-23-94) in the match. The Mustangs were led by 13-kill efforts by Alicia Waller and Kylie Atherstone. The Mustangs won the battle at the net, 11-7.

Highlanders Swept by UCSB, 3-0

(Oct. 7, 2006) - The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos defeated the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders,30-17, 30-21, 30-18 in a Big West match at the Thunderdome in Goleta Saturday. UCR fell to 2-15 overall, 0-5 in the Big West. UCSB is now 10-7, 3-2.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin led the Highlanders with 14 kills and hit .333 (14-3-33) on the night. No other Highlander reached double-digit kills. UCR hit .101 (27-17-99) in the three games.

Olivia Waldowski had 15 kills and hit .429 for the Gauchos, who had four players reach double-digits. The Gauchos hit .336 (60-17-128) in the match.

UOP Sweeps Past UCR

(Oct. 13, 2006) - The visiting University of the Pacific Tigers handed the host UC Riverside Highlanders a 30-19, 30-18, 30-22 defeat in a Big West Conference match in front of 328 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Friday.

The Tigers improved to 6-11 overall and 3-2 in the Big West. UCR is now 2-16, 0-6.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin led the UCR attack with a team- and game-high tying 13 kills as UCR hit .126 (34-21-103) on the match. The Tigers were led by Meagan MimMack's 13 kills and .480 hitting percentage (13-1-25). Johanna Hilbers added 12 kills for the Tigers, who hit .291 (47-15-110) as a team.

Pacific held a three-point lead at 19-16, but outscored UCR 11-3 down the stretch to post a 30-19 win. Natalia Tomaszewska led the tigers with four kills and no errors in eight attempts as the Tigers hit .378 (17-3-37). Halperin led the Highlanders with four kills and hit .444, but UCR hit .286 (13-3-35).

Game two saw the Tigers jump out to a big lead early at 10-3, then build that margin to 14 at 27-13. The Highlanders made a late run cut the margin back to 11, but there was too much ground to make up and the Highlanders fell 30-18. MimMack led the Tigers with five kills in the game as UOP hit .206 (16-5-36). UCR had trouble getting their attack on track and hit .000 (11-11-35).

The third game was closer, but the Tigers were able to keep up their momentum and used a 10-3 run to turn an 11-10 score into a 21-13 lead, eventually settling for a 30-22 win.

UCR hosts the Cal State Northridge on Saturday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Northridge Prevails Over UCR

(Oct. 14, 2006) - In a match that was much closer than its 3-1 score indicated, the Cal State Northridge Matadors handed the host UC Riverside Highlanders a 25-30, 30-25, 30-25, 30-25 defeat in a Big West Conference match at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday.

UCR is now 2-17 overall and 0-7 in conference. CSUN is now 12-5, 5-1.

Freshman hitter Dominique Cowling had a match-high 19 kills and senior hitter Ashley Halperin added 14 for the Highlanders, who hit .141 (61-33-199) on the match. Freshman setter Brittney Murrey had 35 assists.

Siara Grayson led the Matadors with 18 kills and Har mony Burdine had 12 kills. The Matadors hit .163 (62-31-190). The Matadors won the battle of blocks, 14-13.

Halperin led the Highlanders to a game one victory with six kills in 13 attempts for a .308 percentage. The Highlanders led the whole way, opening up a 6-1 lead to start the game. That Matadors got to within two at 25-23, but UCR got the next two points following a timeout by Head Coach Sue Gozansky to regain the momentum and help them to a 30-25 win. UCR hit .273 (19-7-44) in the game, compared to .064 (11-8-47) for the Matadors.

Game two was a neck-and-neck battle to 16-16, but the Matadors used a 5-1 run to take a 21-17 lead. UCR got back to within two at 26-24, but could get no closer and fell 30-25. The hitting percentages were nearly flipped from game one, as the Highlanders hit .024 (11-10-42) and the Matadors hit .233 (18-8-43).

The Matadors carried the momentum into game three, jumping out to a 10-1 lead to start the game. UCR battled their way back into the game, getting to within four at 21-17, but they could not complete the rally, falling 30-25. Northridge outhit the Highlanders, .244 (18-7-45) to .238 (15-5-42). Grayson led the Matadors with seven kills, while Cowling had five for the Highlanders.

The fourth game was a war featuring 12 ties, the last one coming at 22-22. But the Matadors took the lead behind the serving of Kelley Hanson, who helped CSUN build a 26-22 lead before Halperin stopped the run with a kill. However the Matadors once again prevailed, 30-25.

Irvine Blocks Their Way Past UCR

(Oct. 20, 2006) - The UC Irvine Anteaters used a series of big blocks late in the match to help propel them to a come-from-behind 28-30, 30-20, 30-21, 30-25 win over the host UC Riverside Highlanders in a Big West match in front of 154 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Friday.

UC Irvine won their first Big West match, improving to 6-13 overall and 1-4 in the Big West. UCR is now 2-18 and 0-8 in the Big West.

The Anteaters' Lauren Kellerman had a match-high 19 kills and McCall Miller added 13 kills. The Anteaters had a total of 17 blocks on the night, including 26 block assists. Kristin Kelley led the Anteaters with eight blocks. UCI hit .257 (63-25-148) on the match.

UCR junior middle Angie Mitchell had 15 kills and just two errors in 32 attempts, hitting a match-high .406. She also had eight blocks on the night. Senior hitter Ashley Halperin had 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double. UCR hit .052 (44-36-153) on the night and had 13 team blocks.

The Highlanders held the advantage for most of game one, building their lead to as many as seven at 19-12 and again at 25-18 and 29-22. But the Anteaters didn't give up and rolled off six straight points to make the score 29-22 before freshman Dominique Cowling put the game away with a kill. The Highlanders hit .194 (12-5-36) while the Anteaters hit .237 (17-8-38).

The Anteaters continued their momentum in game two, jumping out to a 10-4 lead and never looking back as they pulled away for a 30-20 win. The Anteaters hit .231 (13-4-39) while the Highlanders struggled with their attack to a .000 (12-12-49).

Game three was all UC Irvine as they jumped out to a 14-2 lead. The Highlanders climbed back to within seven but Irvine prevailed 30-21. The Anteaters hit an impressive .351 (19-6-37), compared to the Highlanders' .086 (10-7-35).

Game four was a tight battle featuring seven ties, the last time at 20-20. But the Anteaters used their big block to propel them on a 7-1 run to take a 27-21 lead. Irvine used blocks to score four of their final seven points, including the match winner in the 30-25 win.

UCR Loses to Long Beach, 3-0

(Oct. 21, 2006) - The Long Beach State 49ers defeated the host UC Riverside Highlanders, 30-15, 30-24, 30-24 in a Big West match in front of 328 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday.

UCR is now 2-19 and 0-9 in the Big West, while Long Beach State is now 16-4, 6-1.

Dyanne Lawlor had 13 kills for the 49ers and Alex Crimes and Michaela Hasalikova each had 11. UCR's freshman hitter Dominique Cowling had 10 kills and senior hitter Ashley Halperin had eight.

The 49ers hit .378 (18-4-37) in the fist game and cruised to a 30-15 win, using an 8-1 midgame run to push them over the top. UCR hit .000 with eight kills and eight errors in 32 attempts.

Game two was closer in the early going as the 49ers led 10-9. However they gradually increased the margin, expanding it to as many as nine at 24-15. UCR put together a nice rally late in the game, but could get no closer than four at 28-24 and LBSU finished with a 30-24 win. The 49ers hit .229 (17-6-48), while UCR hit .091 (10-7-33).

Game three finished with an identical 30-24 score as the 49ers hit .279 (20-8-43) and the Highlanders improved to .200 (12-5-35).

Davis Sweeps Highlanders

(Oct. 28, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders continued to struggle Saturday, losing a non-conference match to host UC Davis 30-19, 30-22, 30-22 at the Pavilion in Davis.

The Aggies improve to 4-19 for the season, while UCR falls to 2-20.

UCR freshman hitter Dominique Cowling led all hitters with 12 kills. Setter Brittney Murray led the Highlanders with 11 digs and also served up a pair of aces. The Aggies' Nicole Read posted a team-best 10 kills and added three blocks.

Santa Barbara Sweeps Highlanders

(Nov. 3, 2006) - The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos swept past the host UC Riverside Highlanders, 30-27, 30-17, 30-18 in a Big West match in front of 189 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Friday.

The Gauchos improved to 14-10 overall and 6-5 in the Big West, while UCR fell to 2-21, 0-10.

UCSB's Jamie Garbisch had a match-high 18 kills and hit .432 (18-2-37) while Olivia Waldowski had 11 kills and hit .304. In all, the Gauchos hit .291 (52-18-117). Setter Stephanie Brandt had 40 assists.

Senior hitter Ashley Halperin had 11 kills to lead the Highlanders, who hit .122 (37-23-115). Brittney Murrey had 30 assists for UCR.

No. 19 Cal Poly Cruises Against UCR

(Nov. 4, 2006) - The No. 19 ranked Cal Poly Mustangs continued their run of Big West success with a 30-18, 30-10, 30-15 win in a Big West match in front of 232 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday.

The Mustangs improved to 19-5 overall and 11-1 in the Big West, while UCR fell to 2-22, 0-11.

Cal Poly's Kylie Atherstone led all players with 17 kills and hit .552 (17-1-29). Candace Milton and Ashleigh Bertoni each had 10 kills.

UCR's junior middle Angie Mitchell led the Highlanders with six kills and senior hitter Ashley Halperin added five kills.

The Mustangs hit .516 (19-3-31) in game one and cruised to a 30-18 win, as Atherstone and Bertoni each recorded six kills. The Highlanders struggled with their attack, hitting .032 (9-8-31).

Game two saw the Mustangs improve their hitting percentage, as they hit .548 (18-1-38) with Atherstone adding another six putaways.

The Highlanders came out of the intermission with some early energy and took a 5-2 lead to force the Mustangs into a time out. The time out was just what the Mustangs needed as they regained the momentum and jumped out to a double digit lead on their way to a 30-15 win.

The Gauchos took game one 30-27, holding the slight margin throughout thegame. UCR outhit the Gauchos, .255 (14-4-41) to .196 (21-11-51), and held the edge in blocks, 4-1. But the big difference came with three key UCR service errors that gave the Gauchos the game.

In game two, the Gauchos blew open an 11-10 lead with a 7-1 run to take control of the match. UCSB hit an impressive .469 (17-2-32) in the game, while the Highlanders hit just .135 (13-8-37) in the 30-17 decision.

Game three saw the Gauchos build a big league early and never look back en route to a 30-18 win.

Long Beach State Defeats UCR

(Nov. 10, 2006) - The host Long Beach State 49ers defeated the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders 30-13, 30-11, 30-28 in a Big West match at the Walter Pyramid on Friday night.

The 49ers improved to 19-5, 9-2 in the Big West, while the Highlanders fell to 2-23, 0-12 Big West.

Alexis Crimes paced the 49ers with 14 kills. Nicole Vargas had 39 assists and directed the 49er offense to a .351 hitting clip. Ashley Halperin led UC Riverside with 11 kills in the losing effort.

LBSU jumped out to an early lead in the match and never looked back as they defeated the Highlanders 30-13 in game one. The 49ers used a .552 attack percentage to its advantage for the 17-point victory.

It was all LBSU in the second frame as the 49ers defeated the Highlanders 30-11. LB used an 11-0 run to build a 23-10 lead. UC Riverside put up a fight in game three but the 49ers held on for a 30-28 victory.

Anteaters Defeat UCR

(Nov. 11, 2006) - The UC Irvine Anteaters defeated the visiting UC Riverside Highlanders, 30-23, 30-15, 30-25 in a Big West match at Crawford Court on Saturday night.

The Anteaters improved to 11-15 overall and 6-6 in the Big West, while the Highlanders fell to 2-24, 0-13 in the Big West.

UCR sophomore hitter Amy Read had a team-high 10 kills and hit .348 in the match. UCR hit .068 (34-26-117) in the match. UCI's Lauren Kellerman had a match-high 19 kills and hit .286 in the match. UCI hit .272 (48-17-114) in the match.

Titans Defeat UCR, 3-0

(Nov. 17, 2006) - The Cal State Fullerton Titans handed the host UC Riverside Highlanders a 30-20, 30-17, 30-25 loss in the Big West finale for both teams in front of 352 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Friday.

The Highlanders conclude their season with a 2-25 record, 0-14 in the Big West. Fullerton is 17-11, 6-8.

UCR senior middle Janiece Manuel hit .440 with 13 kills and just two errors in her final collegiate match. Junior middle Angie Mitchell hit .353 with nine kills and three errors. However the rest of the Highlanders had just 16 kills and 17 errors. Overall the Highlanders hit .130 (38-23-115) to the Titans' .375 (50-11-104).

Amanda Pfielschiefter and Breanna Trudeau each had 10 kills for the Titans.

In game one the Highlanders held an early five-point lead at 14-9, forcing the Titans to call a time-out. The teams traded points to make it 15-10, then the Titans went on a 15-5 run to finish the game. Six of the Titans' points came on Highlander attacking errors. The Titans hit .317 (18-5-41) in the game, the Highlanders .146 (12-6-41).

The Titans controlled game two from the outset, hitting .452 (17-3-31) to the Highlanders .026 (11-10-38).

The Highlanders and Titans were neck-and-neck in game three, with UCR coming back from a 13-10 deficit to take a 16-14 lead. But the Titans regained the lead and held on for a 30-25 win. The Titans hit .375 (15-3-32) compared to UCR's .222 (15-7-36).

Halperin Named Honorable Mention All-Big West

(Nov. 22, 2006) - UC Riverside senior outside hitter Ashley Halperin was named Honorable Mention All-Big West, the conference announced Tuesday.

Halperin, who began her career at UCR as a walk-on and concluded it as the starting outside hitter for the Highlanders, led the team with 3.23 kills and 3.07 digs per game. She tallied a team-best 337.5 total points and hit .121 (297-187-911) on the season.

"I am pleased to see Ashley get this recognition," Head Coach Sue Gozansky said. "She has been a leader on this team both on and off the court and never quit, even in the most trying times."