Fullerton, CA– For the third year in a row, Head Coach Michelle Patton-Coleman has led UC Riverside Volleyball to a victory in its season opening match. Friday, the Highlanders did it in style with a 3-0 sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson, 25-12, 25-17, 25-22 in the third match of the day in the Titan Tournament.

Seniors Brooke Callahan (14) and Meg Graham (12), along with freshman Kaiulani Ahuna (10) all posted double-digit kills in helping UCR prevail.

After taking the first two sets in convincing fashion, UC Riverside found themselves tied with FDU at 13 in the third set. Callahan then connected on two of her match-high 14 kills in the midst of a 4-0 spurt causing the Knights to call a timeout.

The clubs then traded points on the way to a 23-18 score in favor of the Highlanders. FDU then used its final timeout. Coming out of the stoppage, the Knights ran-off four straight points, before Callahan had a kill on Chelsea Doyle's 36th assist of the evening to restore order, and give UCR match point.

The blue and gold block forced an attack error to earn the final point, and secure the victory.

The 3-0 sweep by UC Riverside is the second straight in a season opener, as they got past Southern Utah in three frames to begin the 2016 campaign.

The Highlanders take on Bryant at 11 am Saturday in their first of two matches on the day, before facing Drake at 7:30 pm in the tournament finale.