UC Irvine Takes On Sacramento State At NIVC Tuesday
November 27, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
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Sacramento State vs UC Irvine
Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 4:30 PM | Stockton, Calif. | Spanos Center
Live Stats Video
UC Irvine will take on Sacramento State Tuesday (Nov. 28) at 4:30 p.m. in a first round match of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at the Spanos Center.
Host Pacific will take on Boise State in the nightcap at 7:00 p.m. The winners advance to the second round Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 7:00 p.m.
The format of the NIVC is a single elimination tournament played at campus sites all the way through to the championship match. The first two rounds will be played at eight locations with four-team brackets, the winners advancing to the quarterfinals. The last three rounds will feature two teams at one site with the quarterfinals being played Dec. 1-3, the semifinals Dec. 4-9 and the championship on Dec. 12.
VERSUS THE HORNETS
Sacramento State is 26-9 overall and coming off of a five set loss to North Dakota in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship match.
The Hornets were the Big Sky's regular season champion after finishing with a 15-1 league record.
The Anteaters and Hornets have only played three previous times with Sacramento State winning all three, the last a 3-0 sweep in 1996 on a neutral court.
Both teams are ranked in the latest Volleyball Magazine Mid-Major poll with UCI coming in at No. 16 and Sacramento State at No. 23.
THE REST OF THE QUAD
Pacific is 16-13 on the season and riding a four match winning streak. The Tigers were 11-7 good for third place in the West Coast Conference, the program's best finish since 2014.
Boise State enters the week 17-13 overall. The Broncos have won the last four matches on their way to a third place finish in the Mountain West (10-8).
Both the Pacific and Boise State were previously members of the Big West Conference.
NEW & NOTES
It is the first postseason action for the Anteaters since UCI advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004. Head coach Ashlie Hain guided the Anteaters to NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2004 as an all-conference setter.
UC Irvine is 22-7 overall, the most wins since 2009 when the squad also had 22 wins. The 2003 squad holds the school record, going 24-10.
The Anteaters were third in the Big West with a 10-6 mark, the highest finish since the club was second in 2009.
The Anteaters rank 38th nationally in aces with a 1.52 average.
UCI ranks second in the Big West in kills (13.59), assists (12.63) and aces. The Anteaters are third in hitting percentage (.247) and opponents hitting percentage (.197).
Junior Harlee Kekauoha ranks first in the Big West and 37th nationally in aces with a 0.42 mark.
CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
Harlee Kekauoha, Idara Akpakpa and Haley DeSales were named to the All-Big West first team, while Ali Koumelis and Luna Tsujimoto were honorable mention selections.
Kekauoha is one of five UCI players to be a three-time first team honoree.
Middle blocker Makayla Wolfe was named Big West Women's Volleyball Player of the Week as well as the Defensive Player of the Week in the final announcement of the season.
The sophomore became the first Big West player to earn both honors in the same week.
IN THE CAREER RECORD BOOKS
Several UCI players can be found dotting the UCI career record book. Kekauoha ranks fifth in aces (124), while Tsujimoto is fourth in digs with 1,304 and Koumelis is 12th in set assists at 1,206.
Sacramento State vs UC Irvine
Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 4:30 PM | Stockton, Calif. | Spanos Center
Live Stats Video
UC Irvine will take on Sacramento State Tuesday (Nov. 28) at 4:30 p.m. in a first round match of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at the Spanos Center.
Host Pacific will take on Boise State in the nightcap at 7:00 p.m. The winners advance to the second round Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 7:00 p.m.
The format of the NIVC is a single elimination tournament played at campus sites all the way through to the championship match. The first two rounds will be played at eight locations with four-team brackets, the winners advancing to the quarterfinals. The last three rounds will feature two teams at one site with the quarterfinals being played Dec. 1-3, the semifinals Dec. 4-9 and the championship on Dec. 12.
VERSUS THE HORNETS
Sacramento State is 26-9 overall and coming off of a five set loss to North Dakota in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship match.
The Hornets were the Big Sky's regular season champion after finishing with a 15-1 league record.
The Anteaters and Hornets have only played three previous times with Sacramento State winning all three, the last a 3-0 sweep in 1996 on a neutral court.
Both teams are ranked in the latest Volleyball Magazine Mid-Major poll with UCI coming in at No. 16 and Sacramento State at No. 23.
THE REST OF THE QUAD
Pacific is 16-13 on the season and riding a four match winning streak. The Tigers were 11-7 good for third place in the West Coast Conference, the program's best finish since 2014.
Boise State enters the week 17-13 overall. The Broncos have won the last four matches on their way to a third place finish in the Mountain West (10-8).
Both the Pacific and Boise State were previously members of the Big West Conference.
NEW & NOTES
It is the first postseason action for the Anteaters since UCI advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004. Head coach Ashlie Hain guided the Anteaters to NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2004 as an all-conference setter.
UC Irvine is 22-7 overall, the most wins since 2009 when the squad also had 22 wins. The 2003 squad holds the school record, going 24-10.
The Anteaters were third in the Big West with a 10-6 mark, the highest finish since the club was second in 2009.
The Anteaters rank 38th nationally in aces with a 1.52 average.
UCI ranks second in the Big West in kills (13.59), assists (12.63) and aces. The Anteaters are third in hitting percentage (.247) and opponents hitting percentage (.197).
Junior Harlee Kekauoha ranks first in the Big West and 37th nationally in aces with a 0.42 mark.
CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
Harlee Kekauoha, Idara Akpakpa and Haley DeSales were named to the All-Big West first team, while Ali Koumelis and Luna Tsujimoto were honorable mention selections.
Kekauoha is one of five UCI players to be a three-time first team honoree.
Middle blocker Makayla Wolfe was named Big West Women's Volleyball Player of the Week as well as the Defensive Player of the Week in the final announcement of the season.
The sophomore became the first Big West player to earn both honors in the same week.
IN THE CAREER RECORD BOOKS
Several UCI players can be found dotting the UCI career record book. Kekauoha ranks fifth in aces (124), while Tsujimoto is fourth in digs with 1,304 and Koumelis is 12th in set assists at 1,206.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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