Anteaters Close Out Regular Season At Hawaii
April 16, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
UC Irvine at No. 1 Hawaii · Friday, Apr. 16 · 10:00 p.m. PT · Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center
Live Stats
Watch: Big West TV
UC Irvine at No. 1 Hawaii · Saturday, Apr. 17 · 10:00 p.m. PT · Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center
Live Stats
Watch: Big West TV
The UC Irvine men's volleyball team will finish the regular season with a pair of matches at No. 1 Hawaii on Friday and Saturday (Apr. 16-17). The Anteaters and Warriors are set for a 10:00 p.m. PT first serve at the Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center.
ANTEATERS & WARRIORS
UCI and Hawaii started the season with a pair of non-conference matches in Irvine Feb. 21 & 22.
UH won the first match 3-1 and the second 3-0. In the season opener, Colton Cowell and Rado Parapunov led Hawaii with 13 kills each. Cowell fired five of UH's 10 aces. Joel Schneidmiller led UCI with 17 kills, hitting .483.
In the second meeting, Hawaii out-hit (.466-.138) and out-blocked (10.0-6.5) the Anteaters. The .138 is the second lowest mark of the year. Parapunov led all players with 15 kills, while Cowell hit .600 (10-1-15). Schneidmiller paced UCI with 11 kills.
Hawaii is 13-0 overall, one of two undefeated DI teams in the country (Daemen,10-0). The Rainbow Warriors are atop the Big West standings with an 8-0 mark.
Hawaii claimed its first Big West Conference regular season title after beating CSUN twice last week.
UH earned the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament, which it will be hosting at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, April 22-24.
They also own a 14-match winning streak.
Hawaii leads the series 41-22, taking the last six meetings.
UCI and UH last met in Hawaii on Feb. 8, 2020 in a non-conference match at the Outrigger Classic. Alexandre Nsakanda posted a match-high 15 kills in a 3-0 loss to the Rainbow Warriors.
UCI's last win in Hawaii dates back to Feb. 25, 2018 with a 3-1 victory.
MISSING THE MARK
For 16 years, Hawaii alum Mark Presho has been a cornerstone of the Anteater bench. He retired before the 2021 season, but UCI honors the Warrior legend with a social media post on the 16th of every month.
SCHNEIDMILLER DOES IT ALL
Outside hitter Joel Schneidmiller continues to be one of the most complete players in the country, while carrying the offensive load for the Anteaters. The outside hitter ranks third in the Big West in aces (0.39) and fourth in kills (3.75) and points (4.39). He owns a .302 hitting percentage and a 1.45 dig mark. The senior broke the 1,000 kill plateau following the last match and has 1,011 in his career.
The senior led the team in kills in all but two matches this year. He has recorded double-figures in all but two matches this season and recorded one double-double versus CSUN. His 28 kills versus UCSD is the most by a Big West player this year and sixth most in the country.
The senior has a team-best 20 aces, recording two or more aces on six occasions this year. He is third all-time in UCI aces with 110 in 309 career sets.
HOMECOMING
Sophomore libero Davis Lau will return home to Hawaii. The Punahou graduate started in the first match of the season against Hawaii and recorded a season-high eight digs.
STADICK IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Seniors Scott Stadick has cemented his name in the UCI record book.
He is the UCI career leader in solo blocks (99), block assists (494) and total blocks (593).
Stadick owns three of the top four marks for solo blocks in a season, including a school record 30 in 2018.
His 12 total blocks against UC San Diego are the second most in the country this season. For the season, Stadick is averaging 0.98 blocks per set.
LEFTYS ON THE RIGHT SIDE
Left-handed juniors Alexandre Nsakanda and Jonny Bowles have split time at opposite this season.
Nsakanda has started the last three matches and put away a season-high 11 kills to lead UCI in the first match against Long Beach State. He is averaging 1.56 kills and 1.11 digs per set for the season.
Bowles has seen action in 10 matches this season and is averaging 1.38 kills and 1.07 digs.
FRESH FACES
For most of the season, UCI has relied on the services of three or four freshman per match.
Setter Dylan Zhai took over the setting duties on Mar. 7 and is fourth in the Big West with a 8.69 average. He had a career match against UCSD at home with 51 set assists, 10 digs and seven block assists.
Redshirt freshmen Cole Gillis has stepped in to the libero position after starting on the outside to start the season. He is averaging 1.49 digs per set overall and 2.29 over the last 14 sets.
Redshirt freshman Doug Dahm and true freshman Francesco Sani have split time on the outside. Dahm had a career-high 13 kills in the first meeting with LBSU. He is averaging 2.08 kills and 0.69 digs.
Sani has recorded a career-high 13 kills twice this season. The native of Maryland is averaging 1.80 kills.
Middle blocker Connor Campbell has been solid stepping in for the last seven matches. In three of the last four matches he has played in, Campbell has recorded four kills. He has posted a career-best four block assists twice and totaled three solo blocks versus Long Beach State.
LOCKING DOWN THE DEFENSE
UCI has used five different players at libero this season. Cole Gillis has been a fixture the last five outings.
Sophomore Akhil Tangutur has started in the different color jersey four times and owns a 1.56 dig average. He had a career-best 19 digs in the first meeting with UC San Diego. The 19 digs is the most by a Big West player this season and is the 11th most in the country this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Anteaters are coming off a bye week, last playing No. 3 UCSB in two conference matches (3/31 & 4/2) and a non-conference tilt (4/3).
In the home finale, Joel Schneidmiller led UCI with nine kills and an ace followed by Scott Stadick and Francesco Sani with six kills apiece.
The Anteaters out-blocked the Gauchos 6 to 4.
BRAINS AND BRAWN
While the team is nationally ranked on the court, the Anteaters were also highly successful off the court. Men's volleyball had the highest grade point average of all male teams at UCI last quarter.
With over a 3.50 gpa for the Winter quarter, Alexandre Nsakanda, Joel Schneidmiller, Akhil Tangutur, Davis Lau, Francesco Sani, Cole Gillis, Garo Barsemian, Connor Dahm and Doug Dahm were all named to the Dean's List. Graduate students aren't eligible for the Dean's List but Scott Stadick and AJ Faille maintained over a 3.5 gpa as well. Seven other members of the team held a 3.0 or better.
CON-GRAD-ULATIONS
Middle blocker Scott Stadick and libero AJ Faille both took advantage of the NCAA fifth year for 2020 spring sport seniors. Stadick graduated last June with a degree in business administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Finance. Faille completed his undergraduate work in just three years, earning a degree in criminology, law and society in June. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.
Live Stats
Watch: Big West TV
UC Irvine at No. 1 Hawaii · Saturday, Apr. 17 · 10:00 p.m. PT · Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center
Live Stats
Watch: Big West TV
The UC Irvine men's volleyball team will finish the regular season with a pair of matches at No. 1 Hawaii on Friday and Saturday (Apr. 16-17). The Anteaters and Warriors are set for a 10:00 p.m. PT first serve at the Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center.
ANTEATERS & WARRIORS
UCI and Hawaii started the season with a pair of non-conference matches in Irvine Feb. 21 & 22.
UH won the first match 3-1 and the second 3-0. In the season opener, Colton Cowell and Rado Parapunov led Hawaii with 13 kills each. Cowell fired five of UH's 10 aces. Joel Schneidmiller led UCI with 17 kills, hitting .483.
In the second meeting, Hawaii out-hit (.466-.138) and out-blocked (10.0-6.5) the Anteaters. The .138 is the second lowest mark of the year. Parapunov led all players with 15 kills, while Cowell hit .600 (10-1-15). Schneidmiller paced UCI with 11 kills.
Hawaii is 13-0 overall, one of two undefeated DI teams in the country (Daemen,10-0). The Rainbow Warriors are atop the Big West standings with an 8-0 mark.
Hawaii claimed its first Big West Conference regular season title after beating CSUN twice last week.
UH earned the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament, which it will be hosting at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, April 22-24.
They also own a 14-match winning streak.
Hawaii leads the series 41-22, taking the last six meetings.
UCI and UH last met in Hawaii on Feb. 8, 2020 in a non-conference match at the Outrigger Classic. Alexandre Nsakanda posted a match-high 15 kills in a 3-0 loss to the Rainbow Warriors.
UCI's last win in Hawaii dates back to Feb. 25, 2018 with a 3-1 victory.
MISSING THE MARK
For 16 years, Hawaii alum Mark Presho has been a cornerstone of the Anteater bench. He retired before the 2021 season, but UCI honors the Warrior legend with a social media post on the 16th of every month.
SCHNEIDMILLER DOES IT ALL
Outside hitter Joel Schneidmiller continues to be one of the most complete players in the country, while carrying the offensive load for the Anteaters. The outside hitter ranks third in the Big West in aces (0.39) and fourth in kills (3.75) and points (4.39). He owns a .302 hitting percentage and a 1.45 dig mark. The senior broke the 1,000 kill plateau following the last match and has 1,011 in his career.
The senior led the team in kills in all but two matches this year. He has recorded double-figures in all but two matches this season and recorded one double-double versus CSUN. His 28 kills versus UCSD is the most by a Big West player this year and sixth most in the country.
The senior has a team-best 20 aces, recording two or more aces on six occasions this year. He is third all-time in UCI aces with 110 in 309 career sets.
HOMECOMING
Sophomore libero Davis Lau will return home to Hawaii. The Punahou graduate started in the first match of the season against Hawaii and recorded a season-high eight digs.
STADICK IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Seniors Scott Stadick has cemented his name in the UCI record book.
He is the UCI career leader in solo blocks (99), block assists (494) and total blocks (593).
Stadick owns three of the top four marks for solo blocks in a season, including a school record 30 in 2018.
His 12 total blocks against UC San Diego are the second most in the country this season. For the season, Stadick is averaging 0.98 blocks per set.
LEFTYS ON THE RIGHT SIDE
Left-handed juniors Alexandre Nsakanda and Jonny Bowles have split time at opposite this season.
Nsakanda has started the last three matches and put away a season-high 11 kills to lead UCI in the first match against Long Beach State. He is averaging 1.56 kills and 1.11 digs per set for the season.
Bowles has seen action in 10 matches this season and is averaging 1.38 kills and 1.07 digs.
FRESH FACES
For most of the season, UCI has relied on the services of three or four freshman per match.
Setter Dylan Zhai took over the setting duties on Mar. 7 and is fourth in the Big West with a 8.69 average. He had a career match against UCSD at home with 51 set assists, 10 digs and seven block assists.
Redshirt freshmen Cole Gillis has stepped in to the libero position after starting on the outside to start the season. He is averaging 1.49 digs per set overall and 2.29 over the last 14 sets.
Redshirt freshman Doug Dahm and true freshman Francesco Sani have split time on the outside. Dahm had a career-high 13 kills in the first meeting with LBSU. He is averaging 2.08 kills and 0.69 digs.
Sani has recorded a career-high 13 kills twice this season. The native of Maryland is averaging 1.80 kills.
Middle blocker Connor Campbell has been solid stepping in for the last seven matches. In three of the last four matches he has played in, Campbell has recorded four kills. He has posted a career-best four block assists twice and totaled three solo blocks versus Long Beach State.
LOCKING DOWN THE DEFENSE
UCI has used five different players at libero this season. Cole Gillis has been a fixture the last five outings.
Sophomore Akhil Tangutur has started in the different color jersey four times and owns a 1.56 dig average. He had a career-best 19 digs in the first meeting with UC San Diego. The 19 digs is the most by a Big West player this season and is the 11th most in the country this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Anteaters are coming off a bye week, last playing No. 3 UCSB in two conference matches (3/31 & 4/2) and a non-conference tilt (4/3).
In the home finale, Joel Schneidmiller led UCI with nine kills and an ace followed by Scott Stadick and Francesco Sani with six kills apiece.
The Anteaters out-blocked the Gauchos 6 to 4.
BRAINS AND BRAWN
While the team is nationally ranked on the court, the Anteaters were also highly successful off the court. Men's volleyball had the highest grade point average of all male teams at UCI last quarter.
With over a 3.50 gpa for the Winter quarter, Alexandre Nsakanda, Joel Schneidmiller, Akhil Tangutur, Davis Lau, Francesco Sani, Cole Gillis, Garo Barsemian, Connor Dahm and Doug Dahm were all named to the Dean's List. Graduate students aren't eligible for the Dean's List but Scott Stadick and AJ Faille maintained over a 3.5 gpa as well. Seven other members of the team held a 3.0 or better.
CON-GRAD-ULATIONS
Middle blocker Scott Stadick and libero AJ Faille both took advantage of the NCAA fifth year for 2020 spring sport seniors. Stadick graduated last June with a degree in business administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Finance. Faille completed his undergraduate work in just three years, earning a degree in criminology, law and society in June. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.
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