No. 5 UC Irvine Heads To NCAA Opening Round
April 25, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
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NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
May 1, 3-5, 2018
Pauley Pavilion · Los Angeles, Calif.
OPENING ROUND
Ohio State/King vs. UC Irvine · Tuesday, May 1 · 5:00 p.m.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
No. 5 UC Irvine, who received an at-large bid in to the NCAA field, will play the winner of the No. 6 Ohio State versus King match in the second opening round match on May 1 at 5:00 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.
The Buckeyes and Tornado will battle on Thursday (Apr. 26) at St. John Arena in Columbus, OH.
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES AND TORNADO: Ohio State, the two-time defending national champion, won the MIVA Tournament for the third year in a row, while King was the Conference Carolinas Tournament winner.
Both teams enter the tournament with a 23-5 overall record.
The Anteaters are 7-4 all-time against Ohio State, including 1-0 in the post-season.
UCI beat Ohio State 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 30-26) in the 2009 NCAA semifinals.
The last time UCI and OSU met, the Anteaters defeated the Buckeyes 3-0 at St. John Arena on Mar. 11, 2017, snapping the Buckeyes' 42-match winning streak.
Two French players figured prominently in that meeting with Aaron Koubi leading UCI with a match-high 13 kills and Maxime Hervoir being one of two Buckeye players to record double-figure kills with 11.
It will be the first meeting between UCI and King. The Tornado are receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: It is UCI's seventh trip (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015) to the NCAA post-season, with the Anteaters capturing national titles in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013.
The last time UC Irvine was crowned was a 3-0 victory over BYU at Pauley Pavilion.
The Anteaters are the last west coast team to win a championship.
Overall, UCI is 8-2 in NCAA competition.
BY THE NUMBERS: UCI enters the tournament with a 21-9 overall record. The Anteaters have racked up 20 or more wins for the third time in the last four years and five of the last seven seasons.
The Anteaters tied Hawaii for second place in the Big West with a 6-4 league record.
UCI is 9-4 at home, 8-4 on the road and 4-1 on a neutral court.
The Anteaters have not been swept this season, going 12-0 in three set matches. They are 5-5 in four sets and 4-4 in five sets.
VERSUS THE REST OF THE FIELD: The Anteaters lost twice against top-ranked Forty-Niners this season. UCI took LBSU to five sets before falling 3-2 in Long Beach and losing 3-1 in Irvine. UCI is one of two teams to force a fifth set against Long Beach this season.
UCI is the only team to beat No. 2 BYU twice this season, winning 3-1 the first night and 3-2 the second. Both matches were at the Bren Events Center. Karl Apfelbach had a career-night in the first meeting with a career-high 25 kills and six aces.
UCI went 0-2 against No. 3 UCLA. UCI led 2-0 before letting the third match of the year get away as the Bruins fired 13 aces in a 2-3 loss at Pauley. In the second meeting at the Bren, UCLA hit .455 and the Anteaters registered just four blocks in a 3-1 Bruin victory.
UCI has yet to play Harvard, who is receiving votes in the poll.
AGAINST THE NATION'S BEST: The 'Eaters have won 12 matches against teams ranked in the AVCA top 15.
IN THE RANKINGS: UCI is No. 5 in the latest AVCA national rankings. The Anteaters have been ranked in the top 5 for the last 12 weeks, spending three of those weeks at No. 3, its highest ranking of the season.
AT THE NET: UCI leads the Big West and is fourth nationally in blocks with a 2.60 average. The Anteaters have out-blocked their opponent in 25 of 30 matches this season.
UCI had the nation's best blocking night, rejecting 22.5 versus Fort Wayne. The Anteaters also hold the No. 2 spot with 21.5 against UC San Diego on Mar. 16.
STADICK IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Scott Stadick broke his own school record for UCI single season solo blocks with 29 currently and moved in to fifth in UCI career solo blocks with 54. Following last weekend's action, Stadick moved in to tie for seventh in UCI season block assists with 124.
MORE STADICK: The sophomore leads the Big West and is second nationally in blocking with a 1.32 average. He was named Off The Block/Springbak Blocker of the Year. He also leads the conference in hitting percentage and is fourth in the country at .418.
POTENT OFFENSIVE ATTACK: The Anteaters rank fifth nationally with a .332 hitting percentage. UCI has recorded a .400 or better night nine times this year, including a season-best .551 (54-5-89) against UC San Diego at the Big West Championship.
UCI holds the country's best hitting percentage for a five-set match with a .438 mark in the win over Grand Canyon.
UCI hit .720 (19-1-25) in the second set against Hawaii on Feb. 25.
The Anteaters rank fifth nationally in assists (12.03) and sixth in kills (12.68).
Seven different players average over a kill or better per set.
AT THE PINS: UCI has offensive power on the right side with Karl Apfelbach and on the left with Aaron Koubi.
Apfelbach leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big West in kills (3.80) and third in points (4.54).
Koubi is second on the squad in kill average (2.78) and ranks fifth among Big West players in hitting percentage (.336).
YOUNG PUPS: Freshmen Joel Schneidmiller and Austin Wilmot have made a major impact. Schneidmiller is sixth in the conference in hitting percentage at .333 and third on the team in kills with a 2.61 mark.
Wilmot had 13 total blocks against UCSD, which ranks first among players around the country. He is averaging 1.12 blocks and 1.10 kills.
OFF THE FINGERTIPS: Setter Dante Chakravorti is second in the Big West and third in the country in set assists with a 10.61 average. The junior also averages 1.52 digs.
THE SCOOP: Libero David Parker leads the conference in digs with a 2.40 average. He has recorded digs in double figures 15 times, including seven of the last nine matches. Parker has posted a season-high 14 twice this season.
FROM THE SERVICE LINE: Junior Karl Apfelbach leads the Anteaters and is seventh in the Big West with a 0.33 average. His career-high six aces in a win over BYU is tied for fifth most in the country this year.
Schneidmiller follows with 18 aces and Koubi has 14.
STARTERS HONORED: All seven starters were honored by the Big West as all-conference. Scott Stadick, Karl Apfelbach and Aaron Koubi were named to the first team, while Dante Chakravorti and David Parker were honorable mention choices. Joel Schneidmiller and Austin Wilmot were named to the All-Freshman team with Schneidmiller bringing home Freshman of the Year honors.
Schneidmiller becomes the fourth Anteater to earn conference Freshman of the Year, joining Scott Stadick (2017), Carson Clark (2009) and Brent Asuka (2006).
Seven all-conference selections are the most for UCI in a season.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
May 1, 3-5, 2018
Pauley Pavilion · Los Angeles, Calif.
OPENING ROUND
Ohio State/King vs. UC Irvine · Tuesday, May 1 · 5:00 p.m.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
No. 5 UC Irvine, who received an at-large bid in to the NCAA field, will play the winner of the No. 6 Ohio State versus King match in the second opening round match on May 1 at 5:00 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.
The Buckeyes and Tornado will battle on Thursday (Apr. 26) at St. John Arena in Columbus, OH.
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES AND TORNADO: Ohio State, the two-time defending national champion, won the MIVA Tournament for the third year in a row, while King was the Conference Carolinas Tournament winner.
Both teams enter the tournament with a 23-5 overall record.
The Anteaters are 7-4 all-time against Ohio State, including 1-0 in the post-season.
UCI beat Ohio State 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 30-26) in the 2009 NCAA semifinals.
The last time UCI and OSU met, the Anteaters defeated the Buckeyes 3-0 at St. John Arena on Mar. 11, 2017, snapping the Buckeyes' 42-match winning streak.
Two French players figured prominently in that meeting with Aaron Koubi leading UCI with a match-high 13 kills and Maxime Hervoir being one of two Buckeye players to record double-figure kills with 11.
It will be the first meeting between UCI and King. The Tornado are receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: It is UCI's seventh trip (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015) to the NCAA post-season, with the Anteaters capturing national titles in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013.
The last time UC Irvine was crowned was a 3-0 victory over BYU at Pauley Pavilion.
The Anteaters are the last west coast team to win a championship.
Overall, UCI is 8-2 in NCAA competition.
BY THE NUMBERS: UCI enters the tournament with a 21-9 overall record. The Anteaters have racked up 20 or more wins for the third time in the last four years and five of the last seven seasons.
The Anteaters tied Hawaii for second place in the Big West with a 6-4 league record.
UCI is 9-4 at home, 8-4 on the road and 4-1 on a neutral court.
The Anteaters have not been swept this season, going 12-0 in three set matches. They are 5-5 in four sets and 4-4 in five sets.
VERSUS THE REST OF THE FIELD: The Anteaters lost twice against top-ranked Forty-Niners this season. UCI took LBSU to five sets before falling 3-2 in Long Beach and losing 3-1 in Irvine. UCI is one of two teams to force a fifth set against Long Beach this season.
UCI is the only team to beat No. 2 BYU twice this season, winning 3-1 the first night and 3-2 the second. Both matches were at the Bren Events Center. Karl Apfelbach had a career-night in the first meeting with a career-high 25 kills and six aces.
UCI went 0-2 against No. 3 UCLA. UCI led 2-0 before letting the third match of the year get away as the Bruins fired 13 aces in a 2-3 loss at Pauley. In the second meeting at the Bren, UCLA hit .455 and the Anteaters registered just four blocks in a 3-1 Bruin victory.
UCI has yet to play Harvard, who is receiving votes in the poll.
AGAINST THE NATION'S BEST: The 'Eaters have won 12 matches against teams ranked in the AVCA top 15.
IN THE RANKINGS: UCI is No. 5 in the latest AVCA national rankings. The Anteaters have been ranked in the top 5 for the last 12 weeks, spending three of those weeks at No. 3, its highest ranking of the season.
AT THE NET: UCI leads the Big West and is fourth nationally in blocks with a 2.60 average. The Anteaters have out-blocked their opponent in 25 of 30 matches this season.
UCI had the nation's best blocking night, rejecting 22.5 versus Fort Wayne. The Anteaters also hold the No. 2 spot with 21.5 against UC San Diego on Mar. 16.
STADICK IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Scott Stadick broke his own school record for UCI single season solo blocks with 29 currently and moved in to fifth in UCI career solo blocks with 54. Following last weekend's action, Stadick moved in to tie for seventh in UCI season block assists with 124.
MORE STADICK: The sophomore leads the Big West and is second nationally in blocking with a 1.32 average. He was named Off The Block/Springbak Blocker of the Year. He also leads the conference in hitting percentage and is fourth in the country at .418.
POTENT OFFENSIVE ATTACK: The Anteaters rank fifth nationally with a .332 hitting percentage. UCI has recorded a .400 or better night nine times this year, including a season-best .551 (54-5-89) against UC San Diego at the Big West Championship.
UCI holds the country's best hitting percentage for a five-set match with a .438 mark in the win over Grand Canyon.
UCI hit .720 (19-1-25) in the second set against Hawaii on Feb. 25.
The Anteaters rank fifth nationally in assists (12.03) and sixth in kills (12.68).
Seven different players average over a kill or better per set.
AT THE PINS: UCI has offensive power on the right side with Karl Apfelbach and on the left with Aaron Koubi.
Apfelbach leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big West in kills (3.80) and third in points (4.54).
Koubi is second on the squad in kill average (2.78) and ranks fifth among Big West players in hitting percentage (.336).
YOUNG PUPS: Freshmen Joel Schneidmiller and Austin Wilmot have made a major impact. Schneidmiller is sixth in the conference in hitting percentage at .333 and third on the team in kills with a 2.61 mark.
Wilmot had 13 total blocks against UCSD, which ranks first among players around the country. He is averaging 1.12 blocks and 1.10 kills.
OFF THE FINGERTIPS: Setter Dante Chakravorti is second in the Big West and third in the country in set assists with a 10.61 average. The junior also averages 1.52 digs.
THE SCOOP: Libero David Parker leads the conference in digs with a 2.40 average. He has recorded digs in double figures 15 times, including seven of the last nine matches. Parker has posted a season-high 14 twice this season.
FROM THE SERVICE LINE: Junior Karl Apfelbach leads the Anteaters and is seventh in the Big West with a 0.33 average. His career-high six aces in a win over BYU is tied for fifth most in the country this year.
Schneidmiller follows with 18 aces and Koubi has 14.
STARTERS HONORED: All seven starters were honored by the Big West as all-conference. Scott Stadick, Karl Apfelbach and Aaron Koubi were named to the first team, while Dante Chakravorti and David Parker were honorable mention choices. Joel Schneidmiller and Austin Wilmot were named to the All-Freshman team with Schneidmiller bringing home Freshman of the Year honors.
Schneidmiller becomes the fourth Anteater to earn conference Freshman of the Year, joining Scott Stadick (2017), Carson Clark (2009) and Brent Asuka (2006).
Seven all-conference selections are the most for UCI in a season.
Players Mentioned
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