Anteaters fall in tourney final

CRAWFORD HALL -- UC Irvine’s women’s volleyball team fell to Santa

Clara Saturday night in the final of the Marriott Sunset Showcase,

hosted by UCI.

The 24th-ranked Broncos, who did not drop a game in the

tournament, scored a 30-25, 31-29, 30-28 victory and were led by

tournament MVP Becky Potter.

UCI was led by outside hitter Kelly Wing, who was named to the

all-tournament team, after a 16-kill, seven-dig performance. Outside

hitter Chanda McLeod, who also earned all-tournament honors, was

second in stats with 10 kills, while setter Ashlie Hain led the team

with 38 set assists and eight digs.

Irvine defeated James Madison earlier, 30-18, 30-20, 30-24.

* Elsewhere, in NAIA women’s volleyball action, Vanguard earned a

3-1 record in the Concordia University Crowne Plaza Labor Day

Festival. Coach Erikka Gulbranson’s Lions opened the tourney with a

thrilling five-game victory over Bethany, winning 30-13, 27-30,

30-24, 17-30, 15-13 Friday.

Vanguard then lost in five games to Cal State Monterey Bay, 25-30,

30-16, 29-31, 30-23, 15-1.

On Saturday, the Lions defeated Southwest of New Mexico (30-18,

30-27, 30-19) and Embry-Riddle of Arizona (30-20, 29-31, 30-16,

30-15).