Women’s volleyball: McLeod keys UCI sweep

Steve Virgen

CRAWFORD HALL - Nothing like a three-game sweep to lift the spirits

of a young UC Irvine women’s volleyball team, which snapped its

seven-match losing streak with a 30-19, 30-22, 30-20 nonconference

victory over the University of Texas Pan American Monday at Crawford

Hall.

The Anteaters (2-9), who lost a five-game match to visiting Cal State

Fullerton Friday, refrained from the inconsistency that plagued them

against the Titans. Instead, UCI grabbed control early and depended on

its leader, Chanda McLeod, who slammed a match-high 17 kills, to maintain

the advantage. Freshmen Kelly Wing and Sami Cash contributed 13 kills

each.

“Chanda has been our best player for the past two years,” Anteaters’

Coach Charlie Brande said. “And once our players improve and mature,

she’ll be even more successful. Right now, teams always focus on her,

which makes what she does even more impressive.”

After breezing through Game 1, the Anteaters regained more confidence

with their Game 2 victory. The Broncs (1-13), an independent, appeared to

be out of sync throughout. But they nearly came back before McLeod shut

the door.

With the Anteaters leading, 26-21, McLeod accounted for UCI’s final

four points. As she drifted out of bounds, she slammed the ball for a

kill to begin the run. UCI freshman Ashlie Hain, who amassed a match-high

53 assists and 10 digs, dished out the assist. She set McLeod for another

kill to bring the Anteaters closer to victory.

After the visitors earned a point to earn service, McLeod came up with

an emphatic block for a 29-22 lead, shifting service back to UCI.

She then jump served for one of her three aces to grab the win. Brenda

Waterman, a Newport Harbor High product, served a match-high four aces

for UCI.

The Anteaters built a 20-7 lead in Game 3 and coasted to the sweep.

“This definitely turn things around,” said McLeod, a junior transfer

from the University of Arkansas. “We’ve been through a stretch of losses,

so it’s a good feeling to get a win here.”

McLeod, who starred at Marina High before going to Arkansas, will also

play for the UCI women’s basketball team this season. She is one of four

juniors for UCI, which has no seniors and started five freshmen Monday.

“There’s so much talent on this team, it’s unbelievable,” McLeod said.

“In a couple of years this team is going to be good.”

UCI returns to Big West action at Cal State Northridge, Thursday at 7

p.m.