IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 25 UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball team (20-2) is ready for another week of Big West play as they prepare to take on the UC Irvine Anteaters and the Cal State Fullerton Titans. When these teams played each other earlier in the season, the Gauchos won in three sets against the Anteaters and defeated the Titans in four sets.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Gauchos wrapped up the halfway point of the season, traveling to Cal State Bakersfield to take on the Roadrunners before returning to The Thunderdome to face the CSUN Matadors. Despite some injuries earlier in the week, UC Santa Barbara came out of the week 2-0, taking down both the Roadrunners and the Matadors in three sets on their way to earning a spot in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
ANTICIPATING THE ANTEATERS

• UC Irvine is coming off two losses to Long Beach State and UC San Diego after securing three-set wins over CSUN and Cal State Bakersfield.
• Campbell Jensen is one of the best defenders in The Big West. She currently ranks third in digs, totaling 319 while averaging 4.20 per set.
• The offense is led by upperclassmen Hunter Riedl and Marianna Bertolone. Riedl, an opposite for the Anteaters, has the most kills on the team with 203. Outside hitter Bertolone follows up close behind her with 177 kills. The two middle blockers are the most efficient offensive weapons on the team. Isabella Scarlett has the highest hitting percentage on the team with a .284 while Ella Gardiner follows closely behind with a .271.
• Freshman Nicole Feliciano has been setting up the offense for UCI this season. She leads the team in assists with 540.
• The Anteaters are coached by Ashlie Hain, who is in her ninth overall season with the program. She has accumulated a 114-115 record in that time.

TAMING THE TITANS

• Cal State Fullerton has yet to win a game during the Big West slate, most recently dropping matches to UC San Diego and Long Beach State.
• Ameena Campbell is one of the biggest offensive weapons for the Titans. She gets set the ball the most in The Big West as she is No. 1 in attacks per set, averaging 10.55. She currently leads her team in kills 203. She earned Big West Freshman of the Week honors earlier this month for her performance against the Gauchos and the Mustangs.
• Ashley Chacon is one of the biggest players for the Titans on defense along with Campbell. These two players each have 174 digs each while Campbell has added on 21 blocks.
• Setting up the offense for Cal State Fullerton is Ryleigh Garis. She has 543 assists so far in her first season with the program.
• The Titans added 11 new faces to the roster this season, eight of which are freshmen.
• Cal State Fullerton is coached by Nicole Vargas Polster, who is in her third season with the program. She has accumulated an overall record of 26-48 during that time.

WHEREABOUTS
Due to the Bren Center being closed this week, the Gauchos will take on the Anteaters tomorrow, Oct. 27 in Crawford Hall. First serve will still be at 6 p.m. with a live stream available through ESPN+. The next day, Oct. 28, the Gauchos will make their way to Fullerton to take on the Titans. First serve will be at 4 p.m. with a live stream through ESPN+.