Anteaters Upset Third-Ranked USC

UC Irvine, ranked No. 16 in the nation, beat third-ranked USC in five games Friday night in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball.

The visiting Trojans (3-1, 3-1) fought off three match points in the fourth game to force a decisive fifth game, but the Anteaters prevailed, 29-31, 30-23, 34-32, 36-38, 15-12, despite trailing by three points on two occasions in the fifth game.

UC Irvine (1-5, 1-2) was led by outside hitter Ty Loomis, who had 20 kills. Junior middle blocker Erick Helenihi contributed 18 kills and 10 blocks for the Anteaters. Eli Fairfield led USC with 24 kills.