ON THE RECORD
In an unconventional year, the Anteaters played all of their matches against Big West opponents, going 2-14 overall. Nine of the losses came against No. 1 Hawaii and No.3 UC Santa Barbara.

UCI tied for fifth in conference games at 2-8, but due to a tiebreaker was the sixth-seed at the Big West Championship. The Anteaters would drop a 3-0 loss to third-seed Long Beach State in the quarterfinals of the Big West Championship.

The Anteaters had the fourth toughest schedule in the country and took at least one set off every opponent they faced this season.

Something that doesn't show up on the season statistics is the fact that the Anteaters did not have a single Covid-19 case.

LEAVING A LEGACY
Joel Schneidmiller garnered his fourth All-American nod, earning honorable mention distinction. He joins Carson Clark as the only two UCI players to be recognized all four years. The outside hitter was also named a first-team All-Big West honoree for the third consecutive season. He was named Big West Freshman of the Year in 2018 and selected to the All-Freshman team. He ends his career ranked third all-time in UCI aces with 110. Over his career,  he recorded 1,047 kills, 430 digs, 191 total blocks and a .327 hitting percentage.

This season, Schneidmiller ranked fourth in the Big West in kills (3.66) and was fifth in points (4.23) and aces (0.32) per set, while finishing ninth in hitting percentage with a .307 mark.

Scott Stadick took advantage of the NCAA's fifth year and ends his career as the all-time leader in solo blocks (101), block assists (496) and total blocks (596) at UCI. He owns three of the top four marks for solo blocks in a season, including a school record 30 in 2018.  

The middle blocker ranked seventh in the Big West in blocks (0.87) this year. He is a three-time All-American, three-time first team All-Big West honoree and 11-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week. He garnered MPSF and VolleyballMag.com Freshman of the Year accolades in 2017.

DYNAMIC DUO AMONG THE BEST NATIONALLY
Among all active players nationally both Stadick and Schneidmiller are among the best.

Stadick played the most sets (456) and third most matches (119). He leads all active players with a 1.31 block average and 597 total blocks. He is third in hitting percentage (.400).

Schneidmiller is ninth in aces (110), 10^th in kills (1,047) and 14^th in attack attempts (2,151).

ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Anteaters had a nation's best .417 hitting percentage at Hawaii, the highest mark nationally in a five set match.

Schneidmiller tied his career-high with 28 kills versus UC San Diego. The 28 kills were the most by a Big West player and are 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.

Stadick had a career-tying 12 total blocks (1 solo, 11 assisted) versus UC San Diego, which was the third most total blocks in the country this season. The graduate student's 11 block assists are tied for ninth best in a match at UCI.

The Anteaters recorded 18.5 blocks versus UC San Diego, the most by a Big West team this season.

OFF THE BLOCK MENTIONS
Several Anteaters received mention In the Off The Block end of year awards. Joel Schneidmiller was fourth in the the Karch Kiraly Award which is given to the nation's best outside attacker, while Scott Stadick was fifth in the National Blocker of the Year, annually awarded to the NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball player with the best front-row defensive performance and Cole Gillis was tied for ninth in the Steve Shondell Award, recognizing the best passer in NCAA Division I-II.

Voting is done by a nationwide voting committee of college men's volleyball coaches and media members.

FAB FRESHMAN
Cole Gillis, Francesco Sani, Dylan Zhai and Connor Campbell were all named to the Big West All-Freshman team, the most ffirst year honorees in Anteater history.

Gillis, who spent time at both outside hitter and libero this season, averaged 0.98 kills and 1.37 dig average. He had a career-high 14 kills versus UC San Diego and a personal-best 13 digs against Long Beach State.
 
Sani averaged 1.87 kills, playing in 60 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 averaged 8.14 set assists per game, which was fifth among Big West players. He played in 59 sets, recording a career-best 51 set assists twice this season, claiming Big West Player of the Week on Mar. 15.
 
Campbell played in 28 sets, averaging 0.71 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.

Outside hitter Doug Dahm averaged 2.00 kills over 27 sets. He recorded double-digit kills three times, including a career-high 14 versus Long Beach State.

LEFTYS ON THE RIGHT SIDE
Left-handed juniors Alexandre Nsakanda and Jonny Bowles split time at opposite in 2021.

Nsakanda started the last six matches and put away a season-high 13 kills in the first match at Hawaii. He averaged 1.89 kills and 1.05 digs per set for the season.

Bowles saw action in 10 matches this season and averaged 1.38 kills and 1.07 digs.