UC Irvine Travels To Stanford For MPSF Quarterfinal Match Saturday
April 15, 2014 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
MPSF Quarterfinal Match
No. 6 UC Irvine at No. 3 Stanford · Saturday, Apr. 19 · 7:00 p.m. · Maples Pavilion
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Sixth-seed UC Irvine will battle third-seed Stanford Saturday (Apr. 19) at Maples Pavilion. First serve is 7:00 p.m.
UCI has competed in the last nine MPSF championships, but it is the first time since 2010 that the Anteaters have been on the road for a MPSF quarterfinal match. The last time UCI was on the road they lost 3-1 at Stanford. Senior outside hitter Connor Hughes played in that match, adding one kill in three sets.
UCI, who is ranked sixth nationally, is 11-9 in 12 previous MPSF Tournament appearances.
UCI won the MPSF Championship in 2012 as the No. 4 seed, defeating UCLA (3-1), USC (3-2) and Stanford (3-2) to capture the title. UCI also won the 2007 MPSF Championship.
UCI has gone five sets in its last four MPSF matches.
The Anteaters have met Stanford three times in the MPSF Tournament and are 2-1. UCI picked up its first MPSF victory in 2003 with a 3-1 win over the Cardinal in Burnham Pavilion. UCI head coach David Kniffin was the setter on that 2003 team.
UCI has won nine of its last 11 matches and is 18-10 overall.
The Anteaters finished 15-9 in the MPSF and tied for fifth place with UCLA and Long Beach State. Due to tiebreakers, UCI became the No. 6 seed.
UCI trails Stanford 32-16 all-time. The Cardinal won both contests this season.
The Anteaters and Cardinal met last week in Irvine with Stanford winning 3-2. UCI out-hit (.269-.256) and out-dug (50-45) Stanford, but the Cardinal had more blocks (10.5-7). Each team had five aces.
UCI was led by Jeremy Denjo with 17 kills followed by Connor Hughes with 14 kills and 10 digs. Brian Cook led Stanford with a match-high 18 kills. Steven Irvin recorded 15 kills and a match-high 13 digs.
Stanford is the hottest team in the MPSF, winning 11 straight matches. The Cardinal are ranked third nationally and are 20-7 overall and 17-7 in the MPSF.
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