‘Eaters solidify grip on third place

IRVINE — The UC Irvine women’s volleyball program honored a bit of its history Saturday night, then went about doing its best to make sure that history repeats this season.

Before the Anteaters took on visiting Cal State Northridge, several players from the 2004 squad that went to the NCAA Tournament were introduced at Crawford Court. Coach Charlie Brande also unfurled a banner commemorating the accomplishment, which will be displayed in the venue, along with those honoring NCAA appearances in 1988 and 2003.

Saturday, the hosts rallied from a first-game setback to post a 25-30, 30-17, 30-20, 30-26 win over Cal State Northridge.

The victory, a rebound after Friday’s loss in three games to visiting Long Beach State, upped the Anteaters’ record to 17-8, 7-3 in conference. Combined with Pacific’s loss to UC Santa Barbara, the UCI triumph solidified the ’Eaters’ hold on third place.

Pacific (6-5 in conference), Cal State Fullerton (5-4) and Northridge (6-6) are all chasing the Anteaters, who trail Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (10-1) and Long Beach State (9-2), UCI players and coaches are hopeful they can finish strong in their final seven regular-season matches to make a run at an NCAA at-large bid.

“Everyday, that’s what we think about and that’s what our goal is, to make it to the NCAAs,” said senior middle blocker Kristin Kelley, who was a central figure in enabling UCI to overcome its slow start. “And, right now, we have a good shot [at making the tournament], as long as we keep playing like this and going strong.”

Kelley came on strong early in Game 3. With the score tied, 4-4, she pounded back-to-back kills, then added another kill after a Northridge passing error. She then teamed with sophomore setter Taryn Robertson on a stuff block to make it five straight UCI points.

Kelley scored again on a slide attack and the hosts were on their way to a convincing third-game win.

“I knew I needed to lead this team as the only senior on the floor, most of the time,” Kelley said. “So, I needed to play well on my part, so everyone could feed off my energy and my attitude.”

Another senior, defensive specialist Caroline Kim, the only current member of the team who played on the 2004 unit, also provided strong leadership, especially late in Game 2.

With UCI leading, 19-16, Kim stepped to the service line and kept popping floaters over the net. With the help of her teammates, including three quick-set kills by Kelley, UCI scored 10 straight points on its way to a 30-17 triumph that all but rendered the Matadors defenseless.

“[Kim] came in and did an unbelievable job out there,” Kelley said. “She saved us from a lot of points, picked up balls and showed her leadership.”

Kim finished with two service aces and 12 digs.

“Caroline played awesome,” said UCI freshman outside hitter Kari Pestolesi, who collected a career-high 24 kills and hit .259 to help the Anteaters hit .274 as a team. “She’s a stud, who works her butt off every day in practice.”

Brande also had praise for the 5-foot-4 role player.

“Caroline did a great, great job,” Brande said. “She has been with the program for four years, and she’s so calm and steady. She makes things happen when she is out there.”

Kelley finished with 13 kills and only four errors in 29 attempts for a .310 percentage. She also led the winners with six block assists and seven total blocks.

“Kristin is just a huge block,” Brande said of the 6-foot-3 Washington State transfer, who is in her second season at UCI.

Brande said the first-game letdown was almost expected, after his team put everything into its attempt to upset Long Beach State Friday.

“I knew Northridge would come prepared and it did. [The Matadors (9-15)] really played hard that first game. But I’m very proud of our girls, because they stepped it up in the second, third and fourth games. Winning those long rallies, which is what you have to do against Northridge, was all about determination.”

In addition to Kim, Kelley and Pestolesi, who had 13 digs, one ace and three block assists, junior outside hitter Lauren Kellerman (19 kills and a .259 hitting percentage as well as 12 digs), Robertson (55 assists, five kills, six digs and two block assists), junior libero Devon Sutherland (a match-high 22 digs) and middle blockers Shannan Homan and Chelsea Ellis all did their part.

Homan finished with six kills and four block assists, while Ellis, who entered the week leading the Big West in hitting percentage (.395), had four kills without an error in nine attempts for a .444 clip.

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