No. 6 UC Irvine Travels To No. 4 Pepperdine For Important Non-Conference Match
March 20, 2019 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 6 UC Irvine at No. 4 Pepperdine · Saturday, Mar. 23 · 5:00 p.m. · Firestone Fieldhouse
Live Stats Watch
No. 6 UC Irvine finishes its non-conference schedule with an important match at No. 4 Pepperdine Saturday (Mar. 23) at Firestone Fieldhouse beginning at 5:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE WAVES
Pepperdine is 15-6 overall and 5-3 in the MPSF.
The Waves are coming off a 3-1 loss at BYU
They are a perfect 7-0 at home.
LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET
UCI won the first meeting of the year at the Bren Center 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 28-26).
With Pepperdine leading 24-19 in the fourth set, UCI rallied on a 6-0 run, which included three blocks. UCI out-blocked the Waves 12.0 to 6.5.
The Anteaters also fired seven aces, the second most of the season.
Joel Schneidmiller, Aaron Koubi and Karl Apfelbach each had 13 kills for UCI. Apfelbach also had three aces and a season-high nine digs and six block assists. Scott Stadick recorded eight block assists.
Pepperdine's David Wieczorek had a match-high 22 kills.
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
UCI is 14-6 overall.
Last week, UCI was swept by Concordia after hitting a season-low .125 (26-16-80).
The shutout was just the third 3-0 loss of the season for the Anteaters.
It was UCI's first loss to Concordia (5-1) all-time.
Middle blocker Austn Wilmot had a team-high seven kills and three block assists. UCI kill leader Joel Schniedmiller did not play.
With the loss, UCI dropped to No. 6 in the AVCA rankings.
UCI is 8-4 on the road this year and 12-4 against non-conference foes.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
UCI ranks sixth in the country in assists (12.17) and seventh in kills (12.86).
They are second in the Big West in blocks (2.39), digs (8.76) and attacks (27.96).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Brian Garcia and Alexandre Nsakanda have stepped in to starting roles the last four matches.
Garcia, who had a career-high 48 set assists in the first meeting with BYU, has totaled 114 set assists, 17 digs and 10 block assists on the season.
Nsakanda is averaging 1.62 kills per set from the right side. He has added six aces and 14 digs and 10 block assists. He has recorded kills in double-figures three times including a career-best 14 on the first night in Provo.
No. 6 UC Irvine at No. 4 Pepperdine · Saturday, Mar. 23 · 5:00 p.m. · Firestone Fieldhouse
Live Stats Watch
No. 6 UC Irvine finishes its non-conference schedule with an important match at No. 4 Pepperdine Saturday (Mar. 23) at Firestone Fieldhouse beginning at 5:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE WAVES
Pepperdine is 15-6 overall and 5-3 in the MPSF.
The Waves are coming off a 3-1 loss at BYU
They are a perfect 7-0 at home.
LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET
UCI won the first meeting of the year at the Bren Center 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 28-26).
With Pepperdine leading 24-19 in the fourth set, UCI rallied on a 6-0 run, which included three blocks. UCI out-blocked the Waves 12.0 to 6.5.
The Anteaters also fired seven aces, the second most of the season.
Joel Schneidmiller, Aaron Koubi and Karl Apfelbach each had 13 kills for UCI. Apfelbach also had three aces and a season-high nine digs and six block assists. Scott Stadick recorded eight block assists.
Pepperdine's David Wieczorek had a match-high 22 kills.
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
UCI is 14-6 overall.
Last week, UCI was swept by Concordia after hitting a season-low .125 (26-16-80).
The shutout was just the third 3-0 loss of the season for the Anteaters.
It was UCI's first loss to Concordia (5-1) all-time.
Middle blocker Austn Wilmot had a team-high seven kills and three block assists. UCI kill leader Joel Schniedmiller did not play.
With the loss, UCI dropped to No. 6 in the AVCA rankings.
UCI is 8-4 on the road this year and 12-4 against non-conference foes.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
UCI ranks sixth in the country in assists (12.17) and seventh in kills (12.86).
They are second in the Big West in blocks (2.39), digs (8.76) and attacks (27.96).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Brian Garcia and Alexandre Nsakanda have stepped in to starting roles the last four matches.
Garcia, who had a career-high 48 set assists in the first meeting with BYU, has totaled 114 set assists, 17 digs and 10 block assists on the season.
Nsakanda is averaging 1.62 kills per set from the right side. He has added six aces and 14 digs and 10 block assists. He has recorded kills in double-figures three times including a career-best 14 on the first night in Provo.
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballUCI Men's Volleyball NCAA Regional Final | 5.2.2026 | Postgame Interview
Monday, May 04
UCI Men's Volleyball NCAA First Round | 5.1.2026 | Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 02
Anteater Spotlights | Ep. 12 | Tim Ennis
Friday, May 01
UCI Men's Volleyball vs. CSUN | 2026 Big West First Round | Postgame Interview
Friday, April 24
