UC Irvine Tabbed Third In Big West Preseason Poll
December 28, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine was picked to finish third in the annual Big West Coaches Preseason Poll released Friday.
The Anteaters finished in third with 26 points. Long Beach State was a unanimous choice to win the 2019 Big West championship with all six first-place votes and 36 points followed by Hawai'i in second place with 28 points. UC Santa Barbara (16 points), CSUN (11) and UC San Diego (9) rounded out the poll.
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UCI brings back four All-Americans from last year's 21-10 club which made the program's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
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Middle blocker Scott Stadick earned second team AVCA All-American honors after finishing No. 2 in the nation in blocks per set (1.32) and No. 3 in hitting percentage (.422). Fellow frontline teammate, opposite Karl Apfelbach, also garnered second team recognition from the AVCA. A pair of Anteater outside hitters, Aaron Koubi and Joel Schneidmiller earned honorable mention distinction.
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The 2019 season gets underway on Friday, Jan, 4 when UCI will face No. 9 Loyola-Chicago.
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2019 COACHES POLL
1. Long Beach State (6) 36
2. Hawai'i  - 28
3. UC Irvine - 26
4. UC Santa Barbara - 16
5. CSUN - 11
6. UC San Diego - 9
( ) First-place vote
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The Anteaters finished in third with 26 points. Long Beach State was a unanimous choice to win the 2019 Big West championship with all six first-place votes and 36 points followed by Hawai'i in second place with 28 points. UC Santa Barbara (16 points), CSUN (11) and UC San Diego (9) rounded out the poll.
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UCI brings back four All-Americans from last year's 21-10 club which made the program's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
Â
Middle blocker Scott Stadick earned second team AVCA All-American honors after finishing No. 2 in the nation in blocks per set (1.32) and No. 3 in hitting percentage (.422). Fellow frontline teammate, opposite Karl Apfelbach, also garnered second team recognition from the AVCA. A pair of Anteater outside hitters, Aaron Koubi and Joel Schneidmiller earned honorable mention distinction.
Â
The 2019 season gets underway on Friday, Jan, 4 when UCI will face No. 9 Loyola-Chicago.
Â
2019 COACHES POLL
1. Long Beach State (6) 36
2. Hawai'i  - 28
3. UC Irvine - 26
4. UC Santa Barbara - 16
5. CSUN - 11
6. UC San Diego - 9
( ) First-place vote
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Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballTuesday, May 12
Sunday, May 10
Sunday, May 10
Saturday, May 09
