THIS WEEK
No. 6 UC Irvine at UC San Diego · Friday, Jan. 20 · 7:00 p.m. · RIMAC Arena
Live Stats Video
No. 5 Hawaii at No. 6 UC Irvine · Saturday, Jan. 21 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
COMING UP
Sixth-ranked UCI will travel to UC San Diego Friday (Jan. 20) for a 7:00 p.m. match at the RIMAC Arena before returning home to host No. 5 Hawaii Saturday (Jan. 21) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.
This is be the lone meeting of the year with Hawaii. (Buy Tickets)
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
The Anteaters are 42-7 all-time versus UCSD and have taken the last 12 contests against the Tritons.
The Anteaters beat the Tritons 3-0 on Jan. 5 in the MPSF season opener. UCI hit .482 and fired 12 aces in the win. Michael Saeta led UCI with eight kills, hitting .700 (8-1-10). He also recorded 18 set assists, and three aces. UCSD's Devin Pontigon had a match-high nine kills.
UCSD is 0-4 overall and 0-3 against MPSF opponents.
Hawaii holds a 32-21 series record advantage over UC Irvine, winning the last two matches 3-2 in Honolulu in 2016.
The Warriors are 5-0, playing the first five non-conference contests at home. They will start MPSF play with two matches at Long Beach State before coming to the Bren Center.
ON THE RECORD
UCI is 5-1 overall and 2-1 against MPSF teams, going 1-1 on the road last week.
UCI suffered its first loss of the season with a 3-0 defeat at No. 2 UCLA. Saeta led the Anteaters with seven kills, seven digs and an ace, while David Parker and Tucker Pikula each added five kills. 12 Anteaters saw action against the Bruins.
The Anteaters started the week with a 3-2 victory at UC Santa Barbara. Tamir Hershko led UCI with 14 kills, while Saeta hit .786 (11-0-14) and tied his career-high with five aces.
PRESHO HONORED BY HIS ALMA MATER
Assistant coach Mark Presho recieved the Pae Makaukau Alumni Recognition Award from Hawaii.
Presho, who received his award last Sunday in Honolulu, was an AVCA second-team All-American in 1993. He also earned all-Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association third team honors twice in 1991 and '92 and was a second-team all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation pick in 1993. Presho finished his career as UH's all-time leader in kills with 1,582.
Presho is in his 14th season with the Anteaters and has been a part of all four of UCI's national championships.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
UCI continued to move up the rankings, checking in at No. 6 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.
ANTEATERS LEAD THE MPSF
Three Anteaters lead the MPSF in three statistical categories. Saeta is tops in aces (0.86), Scott Stadick leads in blocks (1.33) and Dillon Hoffman has the best dig average (2.95).
SAETA TRIFECTA
Not only does Saeta lead the MPSF in aces, but also ranks 14th in hitting percentage (.423) and 10th in set assists (7.81).
HERSHKO TOPS THE OFFENSE
Senior Tamir Hershko leads the squad in kills with a 2.94 average. He is also averaging 3.35 points and 1.18 digs per set.
YOUNGGREN IN THE MIDDLE
Younggren ranks third among MPSF players in hitting percentage with a .566 mark. The freshman has committed just four attack errors all season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
UCI ranks third nationally in digs (9.86) and fourth in kills (13.38).
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