Connor Hughes Named ESPN Zone Anaheim Anteater of the Week
May 07, 2013 | Men's Volleyball
HUGHES NAMED ESPN ZONE ANAHEIM ANTEATER OF THE WEEK
Irvine, Calif. -- UC Irvine men's volleyball player Connor Hughes has been named this week's ESPN Zone Anaheim Anteater of the Week.
The junior Outside Hitter from Costa Mesa helped lead UC Irvine to its second consecutive national championship, with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 26-24) sweep of top-ranked BYU in the NCAA Championship final Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion. The second-seeded Anteaters (25-7) became the first team in 17 years to win back-to-back titles since UCLA in 1995 and 1996. In the semifinal on Thursday night, Hughes recorded nine kills and hit with a .615 against Loyola Chicago in the 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-18, 29-27). In the Championship game he saved his best for last, as he tied teammates Kevin Tillie and Zack La Cavera with 11 kills in the match. Hughes was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
For UC Irvine, they became the first team in 17 years to win back-to-back titles since UCLA accomplished that feat in 1995 and 1996. UCI, which swept USC in last year's final, is the first school in 30 years to win consecutive championship matches without losing a set. The Anteaters have now won their fourth title in the past seven seasons, when they also won in 2007 and 2009.
