In a year where there a number of upsets across the country, one can only wonder what might have happened if 2020 would have been played out. The Anteaters were once again in the thick of the national race with several impressive performances already showcased.
 
BLOCK PARTY
UCI led the Big West and were second nationally in blocking with a 2.81 average.

The Anteaters had a season-high 16 total blocks twice against Concordia (Feb. 6) and Grand Canyon (Mar. 7). The 16 blocks were tied for most in the conference this year and second most nationally in a three set match.

UCI totaled 10 or more blocks in 12 matches this season.

Scott Stadick blew the competition out of the water, leading the nation with a dominating 2.03 average. The Big West Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year recorded 10 or more total blocks in six matches and held down nine of the top 11 marks in the Big West this season.

CLEAN SWEEP
UC Irvine swept the Big West men's volleyball weekly honors on Feb. 3 with Joel Schneidmiller named Player of the Week, Scott Stadick tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Patrick Vorenkamp earning Freshman of the Week.

It was the third time in program history that all three weekly awards have gone to the Anteaters.

Schneidmiller, who picked up the fifth Big West Men's Volleyball Player of the Week honor of his career, averaged 4.25 kills, 2.13 digs and 0.63 blocks per set as the Anteaters defeated Concordia and USC.  He hit .400 (34-8-65) for the week, recording a then-season-high tying 22 kills in the win over the Eagles. The outside hitter also added a career-best 13 digs for his third double-double of the season.

Stadick averaged an astounding 2.63 blocks per set, tying a then-season high with 10 total blocks (2 solo, 8 assisted) against Concordia then bettered his blocking totals against the Trojans, posting 11 total blocks with one solo and a then-career-high 10 block assists. The 10 block assists ranks 14th all-time at UCI for a match.

Vorenkamp posted his second Big West Men's Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week award, averaging 11.38 assists and 1.50 digs per set.  In the win over Concordia, the setter dished out a career-high 60 set assists and tied his career-best with nine digs.

Stadick and Schniedmiller brought home several more honors, including each being named second team All-America and first team All-Big West.  Vorenkamp joined Akhil Tangutur on the Big West All-Freshman team.

ISLAND INSPIRED
UCI finished second at the Outrigger Invitational, beating Concordia and Queens before falling to No. 1 Hawaii. Joel Schneidmiller and Scott Stadick were named to the All-Tournament team.

Against Queens, Schneidmiller put down a career-high 23 kills, hitting .618 with 23 kills on 34 attempts and just two errors. The junior had a team-high seven digs plus two aces and three block assists.

Also against Queens, JB Kam felt the love from the hometown crowd, adding 10 kills, two aces and five digs.

Stadick had 26 total blocks (four solo) for the tournament, including a career-high 11 block assists against No. 1 Hawai'i in the title match. The 11 block assists are tied for ninth in the rally scoring era at UCI and were tied for most in the country in 2020.

He recorded 11 kills on .611 hitting in a win over No. 14 Concordia as well as adding 10 blocks versus the Eagles.

LEFTY LOVE
Sophomore Alexandre Nsakanda finished the season ranked seventh among Big West players in kills (3.15) and blocks (3.81) and 10^th in aces (0.32). He had a double-figure kills in 12 matches.

The opposite recorded a career-high 19 kills against Grand Canyon (2/28) as well as hitting .522 (14-2-23) with four aces versus USC.

In the final match of the season against Grand Canyon (Mar. 7), junior Jonny Bowles had a career-high 12 kills and five block assists with two aces.

THIS AND THAT
When the season was cut short, UCI was riding a three-match winning streak. The Anteaters started the year with a 7-4 record, using a season-high four match winning streak, only dropping matches to the nation's top two teams plus a five-set loss to No. 6 Lewis. UCI was ranked as high as No. 4 and were No. 6 in the final poll.

UCI began the season with a 3-0 victory against Princeton on Dec. 29, 2019. It was the last NCAA men's volleyball match of the decade and the first of the 2020 season. The Anteaters won two national titles over the last 10 years (2012, 2013).

A season-high 1,665 fans watched the Anteaters take on BYU at the Bren. UCI ranked sixth in the country in attendance.