No. 9 Anteaters Close Out Regular Season With No. 3 Gauchos
April 10, 2019 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 3 UC Santa Barbara vs No. 9 UC Irvine · Friday, Apr. 12 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Watch
No. 9 UC Irvine at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara · Saturday, Apr. 13 · 7:00 p.m. · Rob Gym
Live Stats Watch
No. 9 UC Irvine will battle No. 3 UC Santa Barbara in an important final series this week. The teams will tangle at the Bren Events Center on Friday (Apr. 12) then close out the regular season at Rob Gym on Saturday (Apr. 13). Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.
Following Friday's match, UCI will honor seniors Dante Chakravorti, Karl Apfelbach, Aaron Koubi and David Parker.
The outcome of the weekend matches will determine the third place team in the Big West standings. Entering the week, UCSB is 4-4 in league play, while UCI is 3-5.
ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
UCSB is 17-7 overall.
The Gauchos are coming off two losses at No. 1 Hawaii. UCSB snapped UH's 74-set win streak, taking the third set in Honolulu before falling 3-1.
The Anteaters split a pair of matches last year with the Gauchos winning 3-2 at home and UCI sweeping 3-0 in Irvine. The Anteaters have won 15 of the 17 last meetings.
ANTEATER DETAILS
UCI is 15-10 overall.
The Anteaters fell one spot in the national rankings to No. 9.
UCI split a pair of 3-2 matches with then-No. 10 CSUN last week.
Last Friday, five Anteaters recorded double-digit kills led by Karl Apfelbach with a season-high 22 kills and tied his season-high with six total blocks. Middle blocker Scott Stadick added a season-high 13 kills and five total blocks.
On Saturday, Aaron Koubi had a tied his career-high with 21 kills and five block assists, while David Parker sparked the Anteater comeback with a season-high eight kills, a team-best 10 digs and four block assists.
SOHACKI GRABS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Sophomore Patrick Sohacki made the most of his recent starts and claimed is first Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor.
The middle blocker averaged 1.60 blocks and 1.80 kills per set last week against CSUN.
Sohacki had a career-best seven total blocks on Friday then returned Saturday, bettering his personal-high with nine total blocks in the victory.
He hit .600 for the week with 18 kills and only three errors in 25 swings. He posted a career-high 10 kills on Friday then swung at a .636 (8-1-11) clip on Saturday.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
UCI seniors Karl Apfelbach, Dante Chakravorti, Aaron Koubi and David Parker have left their mark on the Anteater program.
Apfelbach, Koubi and Parker were members of two NCAA teams, with all four players starting on last year's NCAA team.
Apfelbach was named second team All-America last season as well as being named first team All-Big West. He is currently averaging 2.88 kills per set which ranks 10th in the Big West. He has a season-high 22 kills last week against CSUN. He has 80 career service aces which is good for 11th all-time. The lefty fired six service aces against BYU in 2018, which is tied for the second highest total by an Anteater player. He also posted a career-high 25 kills that night against the Cougars.
Chakravorti moved in to the starting setter role last season and guided the Anteaters to an NCAA appearance with the team hitting .333. He was an honorable mention All-Big West selection and ranks fifth in UCI career set assists list with 3,181. Under the control of Chakravorti, UCI has hit .400 or better 12 times over the last two seasons, including a season-best .551 (54-5-89) against UC San Diego at the 2018 Big West Championship. Currently, the senior is ranked third in the Big West in set assists per set at 9.75.
Koubi earned AVCA All-America honorable mention honors as well as first team All-Big West last season. He overcame injury to become a lethal offensive player, currently averaging 2.88 kills per set. He has recorded double-figure kills 27 times over the last two seasons. He is also averaging 1.44 digs per set.
Parker garnered All-Big West honorable mention as well as Big West Defensive Player of the Week accolades in his career. He ranks fourth all-time in digs at UCI with 669 and is currently third in the Big West with a 2.28 average. Over his career, the libero has posted double-digit digs in 26 matches, totaling a career-high 18 twice. The multi-talented player has also hit on the outside, putting down a career-high 17 in 2016.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
The Anteaters are second in blocks (2.34) and attacks (27.68) and rank third in assists (12.14), digs 8.47), hitting percentage (.313) and kills (12.76).
BIG WEST ON THE HORIZON
UCI will compete at the Big West Championship April 18-20 in Honolulu, HI. The Anteaters advanced to the semifinals of last year's event.
No. 3 UC Santa Barbara vs No. 9 UC Irvine · Friday, Apr. 12 · 7:00 p.m. · Bren Events Center
Live Stats Watch
No. 9 UC Irvine at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara · Saturday, Apr. 13 · 7:00 p.m. · Rob Gym
Live Stats Watch
No. 9 UC Irvine will battle No. 3 UC Santa Barbara in an important final series this week. The teams will tangle at the Bren Events Center on Friday (Apr. 12) then close out the regular season at Rob Gym on Saturday (Apr. 13). Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.
Following Friday's match, UCI will honor seniors Dante Chakravorti, Karl Apfelbach, Aaron Koubi and David Parker.
The outcome of the weekend matches will determine the third place team in the Big West standings. Entering the week, UCSB is 4-4 in league play, while UCI is 3-5.
ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
UCSB is 17-7 overall.
The Gauchos are coming off two losses at No. 1 Hawaii. UCSB snapped UH's 74-set win streak, taking the third set in Honolulu before falling 3-1.
The Anteaters split a pair of matches last year with the Gauchos winning 3-2 at home and UCI sweeping 3-0 in Irvine. The Anteaters have won 15 of the 17 last meetings.
ANTEATER DETAILS
UCI is 15-10 overall.
The Anteaters fell one spot in the national rankings to No. 9.
UCI split a pair of 3-2 matches with then-No. 10 CSUN last week.
Last Friday, five Anteaters recorded double-digit kills led by Karl Apfelbach with a season-high 22 kills and tied his season-high with six total blocks. Middle blocker Scott Stadick added a season-high 13 kills and five total blocks.
On Saturday, Aaron Koubi had a tied his career-high with 21 kills and five block assists, while David Parker sparked the Anteater comeback with a season-high eight kills, a team-best 10 digs and four block assists.
SOHACKI GRABS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Sophomore Patrick Sohacki made the most of his recent starts and claimed is first Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor.
The middle blocker averaged 1.60 blocks and 1.80 kills per set last week against CSUN.
Sohacki had a career-best seven total blocks on Friday then returned Saturday, bettering his personal-high with nine total blocks in the victory.
He hit .600 for the week with 18 kills and only three errors in 25 swings. He posted a career-high 10 kills on Friday then swung at a .636 (8-1-11) clip on Saturday.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
UCI seniors Karl Apfelbach, Dante Chakravorti, Aaron Koubi and David Parker have left their mark on the Anteater program.
Apfelbach, Koubi and Parker were members of two NCAA teams, with all four players starting on last year's NCAA team.
Apfelbach was named second team All-America last season as well as being named first team All-Big West. He is currently averaging 2.88 kills per set which ranks 10th in the Big West. He has a season-high 22 kills last week against CSUN. He has 80 career service aces which is good for 11th all-time. The lefty fired six service aces against BYU in 2018, which is tied for the second highest total by an Anteater player. He also posted a career-high 25 kills that night against the Cougars.
Chakravorti moved in to the starting setter role last season and guided the Anteaters to an NCAA appearance with the team hitting .333. He was an honorable mention All-Big West selection and ranks fifth in UCI career set assists list with 3,181. Under the control of Chakravorti, UCI has hit .400 or better 12 times over the last two seasons, including a season-best .551 (54-5-89) against UC San Diego at the 2018 Big West Championship. Currently, the senior is ranked third in the Big West in set assists per set at 9.75.
Koubi earned AVCA All-America honorable mention honors as well as first team All-Big West last season. He overcame injury to become a lethal offensive player, currently averaging 2.88 kills per set. He has recorded double-figure kills 27 times over the last two seasons. He is also averaging 1.44 digs per set.
Parker garnered All-Big West honorable mention as well as Big West Defensive Player of the Week accolades in his career. He ranks fourth all-time in digs at UCI with 669 and is currently third in the Big West with a 2.28 average. Over his career, the libero has posted double-digit digs in 26 matches, totaling a career-high 18 twice. The multi-talented player has also hit on the outside, putting down a career-high 17 in 2016.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
The Anteaters are second in blocks (2.34) and attacks (27.68) and rank third in assists (12.14), digs 8.47), hitting percentage (.313) and kills (12.76).
BIG WEST ON THE HORIZON
UCI will compete at the Big West Championship April 18-20 in Honolulu, HI. The Anteaters advanced to the semifinals of last year's event.
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ 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
