The 2020 Big West women's volleyball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the last time UCI played an official match was Nov. 23, 2019.  

The season will start officially on August 27 at the Bengal Invitational, but UCI will face San Diego State in an exhibition match Saturday (August 21) at the Aztec Court at Peterson Gym in the final tune-up.

2021 Storylines 

The Anteater roster features 14 freshmen, seven sophomores and two juniors. 

Eight players are returning from the 2019 squad.  

A highlight of 2019 was a 3-2 victory over No. 11 Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center. The win was the first against the Rainbow Wahine (1-41) and was Hawaii's only loss this season at home that season. 

UCI looks to rebound from a 5-23 overall and 2-14 in Big West record. 

The Anteaters were picked sixth in the Big West Coaches preseason poll. 

Head coach Ashlie Hain is in her seventh season at the helm of the Anteaters. 

QUOTING COACH HAIN 

"The volleyball we were playing in 2019 is not the volleyball we are playing now."  

"The personnel has changed and let us run a different system offensively. Defensively we understand the game better. Everything is running a lot faster. It's a good starting point for this group who will be together for the next three years." 

"I'm proud of 2019 freshmen (Onye Ofoegbu, Joy Umeh, Kelly Negron, Sofia Skukan, Carrissa MacDonald, Bailey Darnell) and the work they have put in. It's impressive to see the growth they have demonstrated without a lot of training or time with game experience. I think they are eager to compete and I'm proud how they came in this year. They had to learn a lot of hard lessons in 2019 and now are eager and ready to play and more prepared." 

UPPERCLASSMEN 

Junior Sophie Wood and redshirt sophomore Kiani Stanton are the only two players who have been in the program for three years.  

Wood, a versatile setter or rightside player, averaged 2.64 set assists and 0.50 kills as a sophomore, while Stanton played in 20 matches in 2019, recording a career-best eight kills versus UC Riverside. 

SUPER SOPHOMORES 

Onye Ofoegbu, Joy Umeh, Kelly Negron, Carrissa MacDonald, Bailey Darnell and Sofia Skukan all return after gaining valuable experience in 2019. 

Ofoegbu returns after being named to the Big West All-Freshman team in 2019. The middle blocker led the Anteaters with a 0.77 blocking average and was third on the team in kill average with a 2.16 mark.  

Umeh averaged 1.93 kills, while MacDonald averaged 0.87 kills and 1.35 digs.  

Negron was fifth in the Big West with a 8.50 set assist average. She was named Big West Freshman of the Week on Sept. 9, 2019. 

On defense, Darnell averaged 1.36 digs and Skukan averaged 0.77. 

PROVIDING EXPEIENCE
Three transfers dot the roster this year with two having a year at UCI under their belt.

Outside hitter Carly Moreno and setter Caitlin Kikta transferred in 2020 and played the spring schedule last season. Moreno came from Boise State, while Kikta played at Rutgers. 

"Caitlin is a thoughtful, cerebral setter. She is a good decision maker and really smart on and off the court. She has a really high volleyball IQ coming from Coast Volleyball." 

NEW TO THE ROSTER
Ofure Iselen and Ellen Veargason have been added to the 2021 roster. 

Iselen is a 6-0 middle blocker/opposite from Dougherty Valley High School where she was named East Bay Athletic League Honorable Mention. The freshman played for Red Rock Volleyball Club where she was Team MVP 16s and 17s season.  

  

Veargason, a 6-4, opposite transferred from LMU after being on the Lions roster in 2020. She was prepped at Archbishop Mitty, playing on the CIF California Open Division State Championship teams in 2016 and 2017. 

SEE YOU ON SEPT. 3
UCI opens its home schedule with the UCI/adidas Invitational Sept. 3-4 at the Bren Events Center. 

All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask while indoors at UCI facilities. 

Tickets are contact-less via mobile only. Fans can purchase tickets at ucirvinesports.com/buytix 

This year, UCI will use a Clear Bag policy.