Quarterfinal Showdown Versus Bruins Saturday
April 14, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 5 Seed UCLA at No. 4 Seed UC Irvine · Saturday, Apr. 15 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Video
AT THE MPSF TOURNAMENT: UCI is 14-11 in 15 previous MPSF Tournament appearances. The Anteaters have made the post-season each of the last 12 years, falling to BYU, 3-0 in the quarterfinals last season.
UCI won the MPSF Championship in 2015, 2012 and 2007.
VS THE BRUINS IN THE POST-SEASON: This will be the fourth time UCI has faced UCLA in the quarterfinals, winning the previous three times. In 2012, UCI was also the fourth seed taking on the fifth-seeded Bruins with the Anteaters coming out on top 3-1.
ABOUT THE BRUINS: UCI trails UCLA, 46-22 in the series records all-time.
UCLA, who is ranked sixth nationally, is 17-9 overall, coming off a pair off losses at home to Hawaii. Prior to the two losses, UCLA had strung together seven straight wins. The Bruins ended with a 10-8 record in the MPSF standings.
The Bruins handed UCI its first loss of the year with a 3-0 win in Westwood then UCI won in five at the Bren Center.
MORE ON THE MATCH-UP: UCI and UCLA are two of the most explosive offensive teams in the country. UCI ranks third in the country in kills (13.52), while UCLA is fifth (13.16). The Bruins are third in hitting percentage (.329) and the Anteaters are sixth at .318. Serving will be key on Saturday as the Bruins average 1.74 aces per set to UCI's 1.44.
ON THE RECORD: UCI is 19-6 overall and 13-5 in the MPSF. The Anteaters are 8-3 at home and 11-3 away from Irvine this season.
STREAKING: The Anteaters have won the last eight matches and 11 of the last 12 outings. The eight straight victories is the longest winning streak in the country currently and the longest streak for an Anteater team since UCI had 10 in a row from Mar. 27-May 1, 2015.
RANKINGS: UCI stayed at No. 5 for the fifth consecutive week in the AVCA poll. Fifth is the highest ranking this year.
FIVE HONORED AS ALL-MPSF: Five Anteaters were named to All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams, headlined by Michael Saeta and Tamir Hershko being named to the first team and Scott Stadick claiming Freshman of the Year honors. Thomas Hodges was selected to the second team, while Dillon Hoffman and Stadick were honorable mention selections. Stadick was also an All-Freshman team choice.
This is Saeta's first first-team honor, while it is Hershko third all-league honor and second first team selection (2015). Hodges adds an all-conference nod as a senior after starting his career with an honorable and all-freshman team selection when he was at Pacific. This is Hoffman's first all-conference recognition.
Stadick becomes the third Anteater to earn Freshman of the Year, joining Carson Clark (2009) and Brent Asuka (2006).
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR: Tamir Hershko (Israel), Aaron Koubi (France) and Thomas Hodges (Australia) lead the squad in kills.
One of the trio has led the team in kills in 20 matches this year, including the last 13.
Hershko leads the squad with a 3.22 kill average, which is 14th among MPSF players. The outside hitter also averages 1.03 digs.
Koubi has played in 48 sets and is second on the team with a 3.02 kill and 1.33 digs average.
Hodges is third on the team with a 2.92 kill average and is second on the team with 24 aces.
KOUBI CONTRIBUTIONS: Koubi has recorded kills in double-digits eight times this season, including the five outings. He posted a career-high 21 kills in the win against Pepperdine last week.
Since Koubi has joined the Anteater starting lineup, UCI has gone 10-1.
ACE IN THE HOLE: Last week, senior Michael Saeta set the school record for most aces in a single season with 62. He bettered Carson Clark's old mark of 61 set in 2012.
He is second all-time at UCI in aces (160) and seventh in set assists (2,570).
The setter ranks second in aces (0.63), seventh in set assists (9.45) and 10th in hitting percentage (.408) in the MPSF. He ranks fourth nationally in aces.
AT THE NET: Freshman Scott Stadick has made an impact at the net this season. The 7-0 footer ranks fifth in the nation in blocks (1.20) and eighth in hitting percentage (.414). He ranks fourth on the team with a 1.89 kill
average.
The MPSF Freshman of the Year rejected 12 total blocks against Stanford, which is tied for the most in a match nationally. He had three solo blocks and a career-best nine block assists versus the Cardinal.
Stadick has totaled 22 solo blocks, which ranks second in the UCI season record books. He is one shy of Aaron Harrell's mark of 23 set in 2006.
LAST FIVE: Over the last five matches, the Anteaters have taken their games to a new level. Aaron Koubi is averaging 4.05 kills and 1.65 digs, while hitting .406 (81-25-138). Michael Saeta has averaged 12.40 assists, 1.55 digs and 0.70 aces. He has also added 1.45 kills, hitting .545 (29-5-44). Scott Stadick has averaged 1.55 blocks per set with nine solo blocks.
