UCI responds with gritty win against host Cougars

PROVO, Utah — Freshman Carson Clark recorded a match-high 21 kills to help lead the top-ranked UC Irvine men’s volleyball team to a 30-28, 26-30, 30-27, 30-27 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation win at Smith Fieldhouse in front of 3,878 fans Friday.

Sophomore outside hitter Jordan DuFault added 11 kills and recorded a match and season-high 13 digs for UCI (20-4, 15-3 in the MPSF).

Middle blocker Kevin Wynne totaled 10 kills, two solo blocks and six block assists, while outside hitter Cory Yoder, who made his first start of the year, tallied 10 kills which tied his season-high to go with a season-best seven digs and career-high five block assists.

Setter Ryan Ammerman recorded 57 set assists and four blocks, while libero Brent Asuka collected 10 digs.

Freshman middle blocker Austin D’Amore had a team-high eight block assists and four kills.

Outside hitter Taylor Wilson hit .500 with three kills in six swings in the final set.

BYU, ranked No. 6, dropped to 15-10, 11-7.

The Anteaters, the nation’s best blocking team, held a slight advantage at the net out-blocking BYU 18.5 to 18. UCI’s 18.5 blocks is tied for the most this season.

For the match, UCI hit .226 while the Cougars hit .141.

— From staff reports