THIS WEEK
Match: Stanford at UC Irvine · Friday, Feb. 17 · 7:00 p.m. ·Irvine, CA. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/ucirvine/
Match: Pacific at UC Irvine · Saturday, Feb. 18 · 7:00 p.m. · Irvine, CA. · Crawford Court
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/ucirvine/
NO. 2 UC IRVINE HOSTS IMPORTANT MPSF MATCHES: No. 2 UC Irvine will battle No. 4 Stanford on Friday (Feb. 17) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center then takes on No. 12 Pacific Saturday (Feb. 18) at 7:00 p.m. in Crawford Court.
There is also a men's basketball game at the Bren Center on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. so fans should plan a little extra time for parking.
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS: UCI trails Stanford (29-12), but leads Pacific (21-10) in the series records.
Stanford has won the last four meetings against the Anteaters. UCI's last win versus Stanford came on April 17, 2009 in a 3-0 sweep in Palo Alto. The Cardinal is 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the MPSF.
UCI has won the last eight against the Tigers. Pacific enters the match 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the MPSF. Pacific, who will travel to UC San Diego before heading to Irvine, is coming off a 3-1 victory over Long Beach State last week.
A STREAK WILL BE SNAPPED: Friday's match features two of the nation's hottest teams. Both teams enter the match riding a five match winning streak.
UCI REMAINS AT NO. 2 IN THE COUNTRY: UC Irvine remained at No. 2 in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll. The Anteaters have been ranked in the nation's top 15 for 107 consecutive weeks.
UCI is No. 2 in the lastest Asiscs/Volleyball Magazine poll for the second consecutive week.
SEE THEM WHILE YOU CAN: Following the two matches this week, UCI will entertain Cal State Northridge on Feb. 22 and Long Beach State on Feb. 24.
After the Long Beach match, UCI will go on the road for six consecutive matches and does not return home until Mar. 30.
PACKING THE BREN: UCI ranks third in the country in attendance behind BYU and Hawaii, averaging 1,509 fans per match at home this year. The Anteaters have played in front of 2,000 or more fans in the Bren on three occasions this season.
MCDONNELL CATCHES ISLAND FEVER: Middle blocker Dan McDonnell had a solid offensive effort last week against Hawaii. The senior posted a career-high 12 kills on the first night to go with four total blocks then added seven kills, hitting .600 on the second night. McDonnell tied his career-high with three aces in three sets on Sunday. For the week, McDonnell averaged 2.71 kills, 3.71 points, 1.00 blocks and 0.43 service aces.
MPSF STATS: UCI leads the MPSF in service aces with a 1.83 average. The Anteaters are second in hitting percentage (.354) and third kills (13.21). The Anteaters are averaging 1.96 aces in MPSF matches only where they also top the league.
Carson Clark leads the MPSF in aces (0.55), is fifth in points (4.50) and eighth in kills (3.63). Clark leads the league in aces in MPSF matches only with a 0.68 mark.
Jeremy Dejno is third in aces (0.45), 12th in points (3.95) and 13th in kills (3.26). Daniel Stork is sixth in set assists (10.38).
Three UCI middle blockers are ranked in hitting percentage with Scott Kevorken ranking fifth (.484), Dan McDonnell is eighth (.450) and Austin D'Amore is 13th (.424). In MPSF matches-only, D'Amore is third in the league in hitting percentage (.543), while Kevorken is fifth (.529), McDonnell is seventh (.461) and Kevin Tillie is 11th (.431).
SIZZLING SERVES: UCI is averaging 1.8 aces per set this season and 2.0 over the last six matches. The Anteaters have had more aces than the opponent in nine matches and have tied in the other two.
UCI had a season-high 14 service aces against BYU on Jan. 14.
Senior Carson Clark leads the squad with 20 followed by Jeremy Dejno with 19. Clark became UCI's career leader earlier this season and currently has 142 all-time.
FIREPOWER AT THE PINS: UCI has several offensive weapons led by senior All-American opposite Carson Clark who is averaging 3.68 kills, 4.51 points, 0.53 aces and 1.76 digs. Outside hitter Jeremy Dejno averages 3.29 kills, 3.98 points and 0.45 aces, while Kevin Tillie is averaging 2.95 kills, 3.33 points and 1.25 digs. Senior outside hitter Kevin Carroll averages 2.65 kills per set.
BETTER BLOCKING: Over the last three matches, the Anteaters have out-blocked the opponents, 33-12.5. UCI is averaging 2.1 blocks per set on the season.
BRINKLEY DIGS EM UP: Freshman libero Michael Brinkley leads the team in digs averaging 2.00 per game. He has recorded digs in double-digits twice including a career-high 11 versus Pepperdine.
LAST TIME OUT: Last week, UCI swept the series with Hawaii with a 3-1 victory on Friday and a 3-0 win on Sunday.
In the first match, Carson Clark led all players with 23 points, putting away 19 kills and recording two aces and three block assists to go with nine digs. Jeremy Dejno had 15 kills and three service aces, while Dan McDonnell had a career-high 12 kills and four block assists.
On Sunday, Tillie and Clark each had 10 kills, with Tillie hitting .643 and collecting a team-high six digs and Clark firing three aces.
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