THIS WEEK
MPSF Matches
No. 5 UC Irvine at No. 14 CSUN · Wednesday, Feb. 11 · 7:00 p.m. · The Matadome
Live Stats
RV Stanford at No. 5 UC Irvine · Friday, Feb. 13 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
No. 4 Pepperdine at No. 5 UC Irvine · Saturday, Feb. 14 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
QUICK HITS
A trio of matches is on the agenda this week beginning with a road trip up the 405 to No. 14 CSUN Wednesday (Feb. 10) at 7:00 p.m. at the Matadome.
The Anteaters return home to host Stanford Friday (Feb. 13) and No. 4 Pepperdine Saturday (Feb. 14). Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
CSUN is 5-6 overall and 2-3 in the MPSF. Last week, the Matadors upset No. 8 UC Santa Barbara and lost to No. 9 UCLA, 3-1
Cal State Northridge holds a 26-24 series advantage over the Anteaters, but UCI has won the last nine meetings, including a 3-1 victory in Northridge earlier this year.
Stanford, who is 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the MPSF, is on a four-match losing streak, falling to Concordia, 3-1 in their last outing.
Stanford leads the series records with UCI and beat the Anteaters three times last year. Twice in eight days the Cardinal defeated UCI in five sets the final time in the MPSF Tournament.
The Cardinal, who are currently receiving votes in the AVCA Top-15 poll, lost to Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA championship match last season.
For the second consecutive year, UCI will host Pepperdine on Valentine's Day. Last season, the Anteaters upset the Waves, 3-0 on Feb. 14. Pepperdine holds a 39-19 advantage over UCI in the series records overall.
The Anteaters and Waves have the most overall wins in the MPSF with UCI at 10-3 and Pepperdine at 10-1. Pepperdine is 6-1 in the MPSF while UCI is 5-2.
Pepperdine's lone loss of the season is a 3-1 defeat at USC.
The Waves will visit UC San Diego Friday before coming to the Bren.
Last week, UCI hit .402 in a 3-1 win at UC San Diego. Outside hitter Kyle Russell hit .424 with a career-high 20 kills (20-6-33). He also recorded two aces and seven digs.
Zack La Cavera leads the MPSF and is 11th nationally in points with a 4.49 average.
Outside hitter Tamir Hershko is second in the conference in point average (4.39) and third in kill average (3.75).
Sophomore Michael Saeta is the top assist man in the MPSF with an 11.37 average. He ranks third in the nation in that category and is eighth in the country in aces with a team-best 0.50 average.
Middle blocker Andrew Benz is hitting .580, committing just six attack errors all season (57-6-88). He averages 1.36 kills and 0.90 blocks per set.
The Anteaters lead the nation with a .349 team attack percentage and rank second in kills (13.83) and assists (13.09). UCI leads the MPSF in hitting percentage, kills and assists.
The Anteaters have fired the most aces in the league with 82 and rank fourth nationally with a 1.78 average.
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