‘Eaters dig deep and win

IRVINE — Offensively, the UC Irvine women’s volleyball team operates as a democracy, consistently sharing power for the benefit of all. Defensively, however, the Anteaters have come to resemble a monarchy and junior Devon Sutherland is the queen.

The 5-foot-6 libero darted, dived, sprinted, slid and sprawled all over the court Thursday to post a career-high 30 digs and help UCI earn a 30-21, 30-21, 25-30, 30-27 victory over visiting UC Riverside in the Big West Conference opener at Crawford Court.

“I kept saying each timeout that we needed to block the line, and let them hit cross-court,” UCI Coach Charlie Brande said, “because Devon was digging everything.”

Sutherland, who has emerged as a defensive demon after transitioning from her role as a high school setter, helped steady the Anteaters (11-3), when they teetered slightly after controlling the first two games.

“We wanted to come out strong in our first conference match,” said Sutherland, who acknowledged she was in a groove when it came to repelling Riverside kill attempts. “We didn’t want to underestimate [the Highlanders (4-8)]. In the third game, we got down on ourselves and gave them a little more momentum. Going into the fourth, we wanted to put it to them. We still had a little trouble in the fourth game, but we got the job done.”

The fourth game was a battle, as the hosts overcame a 3-0 deficit to claim a 13-12 lead. The game featured eight ties, until UCI pulled away after a 14-14 deadlock. UCI pushed the lead to 20-15, but Riverside kept plugging, closing to within 29-27 before an Alex Filkins kill ended the match.

Filkins, a 6-1 sophomore who did not start for the first time all season, came off the bench to provide a spark. She had six kills in 11 attempts to post a .364 hitting percentage, bettered only by UCI middle blockers Kristin Kelley (11 kills, .455) and Chelsea Ellis (nine kills, .438).

Freshman outside hitter Kari Pestolesi had a match-high 18 kills and hit .326 to help UCI hit .282 as a team, 150 points better than the Highlanders. Junior outside hitter Lauren Kellerman had 17 kills, but hit just .184.

“[The Highlanders] made so many adjustments as we went and we didn’t adapt very well to their adjustments,” Brande said. “They got the momentum. I felt very fortunate to win the fourth game. I thought our girls showed some toughness to pull that thing out. Kelley, Kellerman and Sutherland really stepped up.”

UCI sophomore setter Taryn Robertson had 62 assists, exactly double the total produced by UCR setter Dominique Cowling. Robertson also led UCI with three aces and her one solo block and four block assists were bettered only by Kelley (two solo blocks and four block assists).

Robertson also had five kills for the winners, who opened conference play with four straight losses last season, before going on to win six of their last eight against Big West foes.

“We were excited about coming into conference play,” Sutherland said. “We hope to win some matches we should have won last year.

“I personally feel that I’m adjusting to my role more as a libero and getting used to what I have to do, leading the defense, serving and passing,” she said. “I’m much more confident in myself than I have been.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.