Six UC Irvine Players Earn All-Big West Distinction
April 19, 2021 | Men's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. – Joel Schneidmiller and Scott Stadick were named first-team All-Big West, while Cole Gillis, Francesco Sani, Dylan Zhai and Connor Campbell were selected to the All-Freshman team by a vote of the league head coaches.
Schneidmiller and Stadick each notch their third first team All-Big West accolade, ranking only behind Hawaii's Patrick Gasman who has been named four times.
Schneidmiller ranks fourth in kills (3.73), points (4.33) and aces (0.34) per set among league players. The outside hitter was also 12th in hitting percentage with a .312 mark. The senior tied his career-high with 28 kills and seven block assists against UC San Diego. The 28 kills are the most by a Big West player and tied for sixth most in the country this season as well as fourth most all-time by a Big West player. He recorded 33.5 points in that match which is the third most all-time in Big West history and the most by a conference player in 2021. The outside hitter led UCI in kills in all but two matches this season, recording double-figures in 12 of 15 matches this season. He had one double-double versus CSUN with 14 kills and 10 digs. He fired two or more aces on six occasions, including a season-high four versus UC Santa Barbara. Schneidmiller currently ranks third all-time in UCI aces with 110 in 317 career sets.
Stadick will end his career as the all-time leader in solo blocks (100), block assist (496) and total blocks (596) at UCI and in the history of the Big West. The middle blocker ranks sixth in the Big West in hitting percentage (.359) and seventh in blocks (0.90). The graduate student had a career-tying 12 total blocks (1 solo, 11 assisted) versus UC San Diego, which is the second highest mark in block assists and third highest in total blocks in the country this season. He is an 11-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week.
Four Anteaters made up the eight-member All-Freshman team. Four players is the most ever to appear on an All-Freshman squad in school history.
Gillis has spent time at both outside hitter and libero this season and owns a 0.98 kill and 1.43 dig average. He had a career-high 14 kills versus UC San Diego and a personal-best 13 digs against Long Beach State.
Sani is second on the team in kills with a 1.91 average, playing in 57 sets. He was named Big West Freshman of the Week on Mar. 8 after recording a career-high 13 kills and six digs against UC Santa Barbara.
Zhai has started at setter in the last 13 matches and averages 8.20 set assists per game, which is fifth among Big West players. He had a career-best 51 set assists twice this season, claiming Big West Player of the Week on Mar. 15.
Campbell played in 26 sets, averaging 0.69 kills and 0.69 blocks. The middle blocker had a career-high seven total block against Long Beach State with three solos and four block assists.
All-time, UCI has had 30 players named to a first team and 11 players named to conference All-Freshman teams.
Schneidmiller and Stadick each notch their third first team All-Big West accolade, ranking only behind Hawaii's Patrick Gasman who has been named four times.
Schneidmiller ranks fourth in kills (3.73), points (4.33) and aces (0.34) per set among league players. The outside hitter was also 12th in hitting percentage with a .312 mark. The senior tied his career-high with 28 kills and seven block assists against UC San Diego. The 28 kills are the most by a Big West player and tied for sixth most in the country this season as well as fourth most all-time by a Big West player. He recorded 33.5 points in that match which is the third most all-time in Big West history and the most by a conference player in 2021. The outside hitter led UCI in kills in all but two matches this season, recording double-figures in 12 of 15 matches this season. He had one double-double versus CSUN with 14 kills and 10 digs. He fired two or more aces on six occasions, including a season-high four versus UC Santa Barbara. Schneidmiller currently ranks third all-time in UCI aces with 110 in 317 career sets.
Stadick will end his career as the all-time leader in solo blocks (100), block assist (496) and total blocks (596) at UCI and in the history of the Big West. The middle blocker ranks sixth in the Big West in hitting percentage (.359) and seventh in blocks (0.90). The graduate student had a career-tying 12 total blocks (1 solo, 11 assisted) versus UC San Diego, which is the second highest mark in block assists and third highest in total blocks in the country this season. He is an 11-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week.
Four Anteaters made up the eight-member All-Freshman team. Four players is the most ever to appear on an All-Freshman squad in school history.
Gillis has spent time at both outside hitter and libero this season and owns a 0.98 kill and 1.43 dig average. He had a career-high 14 kills versus UC San Diego and a personal-best 13 digs against Long Beach State.
Sani is second on the team in kills with a 1.91 average, playing in 57 sets. He was named Big West Freshman of the Week on Mar. 8 after recording a career-high 13 kills and six digs against UC Santa Barbara.
Zhai has started at setter in the last 13 matches and averages 8.20 set assists per game, which is fifth among Big West players. He had a career-best 51 set assists twice this season, claiming Big West Player of the Week on Mar. 15.
Campbell played in 26 sets, averaging 0.69 kills and 0.69 blocks. The middle blocker had a career-high seven total block against Long Beach State with three solos and four block assists.
All-time, UCI has had 30 players named to a first team and 11 players named to conference All-Freshman teams.
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