FIRST SERVE
UCI will make a trip to UC San Diego Thursday (Nov. 10) for a 7:00 p.m. match at the LionTree Arena before returning home to host league-leading Hawaii Saturday (Nov. 12) at 5:00 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
 
STORYLINES
UC Irvine is 15-9 overall and 8-6 in Big West action.
 
UCI is 11-2 when playing on Court 21.
 
The Anteaters suffered just the second loss at home at the hands of UC Davis, 3-1 last week after beating UC Riverside, 3-0.
 
The Anteaters have played eight five-set matches this season, winning four.
 
UC San Diego is 12-14 overall and 5-9 against Big West foes.
 
The Tritons lost to UC Davis (3-0) before sweeping UC Riverside.
 
In the first meeting, the Anteaters edged the UCSD, 3-2. Joy Umeh led UCI with 17 kills, while UCSD was paced by Ava McInnis' 13 kills.
 
Neither offense was clicking as UCI hit .164 to UCSD's .099.

The Anteaters had a season-high 18 blocks, the third most in the Big West this season.

Middle blocker Kiani Stanton totaled 13 total blocks (2S, 11BA) in the first meeting with UCSD, the most in the Big West and second most a UCI match all-time
 
Hawaii sits atop the Big West standings with a 13-1 mark. Their lone loss came on the road at Cal Poly, 3-1.

The Rainbow Wahine are 16-6 overall.
 
In the first meeting, UH hit .471, the highest mark in the conference this season.
 
Hawaii's Amber Igiede recorded 16 kills with no errors in 24 attacks for a .667 hitting percentage, while Tiffany Westerberg totaled 12 kills with no errors on 15 swings for a .800 hitting percentage. 

Ofoegbu paced UCI with 11 kills and four blocks, hit .474 (11-2-19).
 
The Anteaters are ranked 35^th in opponents' hitting percentage (.168) and 39th in blocks (2.49).

UCI was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Coaches Preseason Poll and currently sits in fifth in the standings. UCI is one of five schools that have winning records in conference play.

OFOEGBU AT THE NET
Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu is ranked 47th nationally in total blocks with 112 and is 55th in blocks per set at 1.23.
 
Ofoegbu is currently seventh all-time in UCI block assists with 285. Alexander Houser is sixth with 303 and Kris Roberts (1985-88) is the school record holder with 377.
 
The junior currently has 101 block assists, two shy of moving into 10^th in the season record book where Shannon Fleming sits at 103 set in 2013.
 
Offensively, Ofoegbu is second in The Big West in hitting percentage (.371), sixth in points (4.18) and seventh in kills (3.29).
 
UMEH IN CHARGE
Joy Umeh led UCI in both matches last week, posting 4.71 kills per set.

She leads the squad with a 3.47 kill average which is sixth best in the Big West.

The junior has recorded kills in double-figures 19 times including a career-high 24 against CSUB, tied for fifth most in the Big West.

VERY VEARGASON
Opposite Ellen Veargason had a career-high 13 kills last week against UC Davis.

She is averaging 1.37 kills and 0.99 blocks, which is 10th best in the Big West.

FAB FRESHMEN
Freshmen Campbell Jensen leads the Big West in digs with a 4.63 average.

She has recorded 20 or more digs nine times.

Outside hitter Kendra MacDonald has started the last three matches, posting a career-high 10 kills and 15 digs at CSUN.

FROM THE SERVICE LINE
Setter Indy DeSmet leads the squad with 22 aces, firing a career-high four versus UC Davis.

Ofoegbu follows with 20 and Jensen with 17.