BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

Sixth-seeded UC Irvine will compete at the Big West Championship, facing third seed Long Beach State in a quarterfinal match Thursday (Apr. 22). First serve from the Simplifi Arena at Stan Sherrif Center begins at 7:30 p.m. PT.

TOURNEY TIME
UCI is 2-2 at the two previous Big West Championships. In 2019, the Anteaters beat UCSD 3-0 then fell to Hawaii 0-3. UCI defeated the Tritons 3-0 and lost to Hawaii 1-3 in 2018.

The Anteaters have won a conference tournament three times, capturing the MPSF championship title in 2007, 2012 and 2015. UCI has compiled an 18-15 post-season tournament record all-time. 

BLACK & BLUE
Long Beach State holds a 44-24 series record advantage. The Beach won the first two meetings of the year, 3-1 and 3-2.

In the last meeting, UCI won the first two sets but couldn't hold off LBSU as The Beach won the final three sets. Long Beach State out-hit (.309-.183), out-blocked (12-8), out-dug (52-46), and held a 7-5 ace advantage

Joel Schneidmiller led UCI in kills with 16, while adding eight digs and two aces. Redshirt freshman Doug Dahm had career-high performances in the series, totaling 27 kills over the two matches, including a career-best 14 in the second meeting. Scott Stadick had a season-high 14 kills, one shy of his career-high, while Cole Gillis recorded a career and team-high 13 digs. LBSU's Spencer Olivier led all players with 20 kills.

Seventh-ranked Long Beach State is 6-4 overall and 6-4 in Big West action. The Beach split a pair of matches with CSUN last week.
 
BIG WEST HONORS
Scott Stadick and Joel Schneidmiler were both named first team All-Big West for the third time. Only Hawaii's Pat Gassman has been selected four times.

Outside hitters Francesco Sani and Cole Gillis, middle blocker Connor Campbell, setter Dylan Zhai were named to the eight member Big West All-Freshman team.

MORE SANI
Sani is the reigning Big West Freshman of the Week. He garnered the honor for the second time this season after averaging 2.63 kills over two matches.  

Overall, the outside hitter averages 1.91 kills over 57 sets

LAST TIME OUT
UCI dropped a pair of matches against No. 1 Hawaii last week.

UCI pushed No. 1 Hawaii to a fifth set the first night, losing 15-13. Schneidmiller topped the Anteaters with 20 kills.

Hawaii won 3-0 the second night with Schneidmiller and Sani pacing the Anteaters with nine kills each.

SCHNEIDMILLER LEADS
Outside hitter Joel Schneidmiller leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big West in kills with a 3.73 average. The senior also ranks fourth in aces (0.34) and points (4.33) and is12th in hitting percentage (.312).