LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED

UCI opens the 2017 campaign in 2016 traveling to Concordia Dec. 29 for a 7:00 p.m. match in CU Arena.

The Anteaters return home for three matches beginning with Fort Wayne Jan. 3 at the Bren Center at 7:00 p.m.

The first MPSF match of the year is against UC San Diego on Jan. 5 in Crawford Court before another non-conference match versus Grand Canyon Jan. 6 at the Bren. First serve for both matches is 7:00 p.m.

AGAINST THE EAGLES

UC Irvine opened the 2013 season with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-15) victory over Concordia.

Michael Saeta recorded 43 set assists in that match while guiding the Anteaters to a .466 hitting percentage (51-10-88).

Concordia will become members of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation beginning in the 2017-2018 athletic season, while UCI will join the Big West.

IN THE POLLS

UCI was ranked No. 8 in the AVCA Coaches' Preseason poll

The Anteaters were picked to finish fourth in the MPSF Coaches Poll

This season, the Anteaters will play 10 of the 14 teams ranked in the preseason AVCA Top 15 and all three teams receiving votes.

RETURNING CAST

The Anteaters return 14 letterwinners, including five seniors.

Outside hitter Tamir Hershko played in just 41 sets due to injury, but was named MPSF honorable mention after leading UCI with a 3.71 kill average.

Michael Saeta started last year as a setter and ended on the right side. He was named to the All-MPSF second team with a 1.79 kill average. He led the league and was third nationally with a 0.52 service aces average.

Dillon Hoffman was third among MPSF players in digs with a 2.13 average.

NEW FACE

Freshman Scott Stadick joins the squad after being tabbed the nation's top recruit by Volleyball Magazine. The 7-0 middle blocker from Watertown, Wisc. helped the U.S. Men's Junior National Team win the 2016 NORCECA Under-21 Continental Championship and qualify for the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship.

A LOOK BACK

The Anteaters finished 10-20 overall and 7-14 in the MPSF.

UCI finished in a tie for eighth place, nabbing the final MPSF post-season bid.  The Anteaters have made the postseason for 11 consecutive years.

 

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