UCI Meets CSUN On Court 21 Saturday
April 08, 2022 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 14 UC Irvine at CSUN
Friday, Apr. 8 | 7:00 PM | The Matadome
Live Stats
Watch: ESPN+
CSUN at No. 14 UC Irvine
Saturday, Apr. 9 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats
Watch: ESPN+
FIRST SERVE
No. 14 UC Irvine will travel to CSUN Friday (Apr. 6) for a 7:00 p.m. match at the Matadome before returning to the Bren Events Center Saturday (Apr. 9) for a 7:00 p.m. first serve.
The dedication of Court 21 will happen before the match begins on Saturday.
COURT 21 DEBUTS
It will be a special night Saturday when Court 21 will be played on for the first time. The Taraflex court is one of only six used on the men's side.
"Court 21" is a tribute to the life of Tim Vorenkamp who signed with UC Irvine in the class of 2015. Tim was diagnosed at age 13 with synovial sarcoma, an exceptionally rare form of cancer. Over the years he experienced countless chemotherapy and radiation and relapses. But through it all, he continued to play volleyball, wearing the number 21. And while he did not play at UCI (passing away on January 10, 2016) in what would have been his freshman year, his legacy will live on in the Bren Events Center.
STORYLINES
The series is deadlocked at 36-36 all-time.
The teams each won 3-1 on their home court last season.
CSUN enters the week 6-11 overall and 1-5 in the Big West.
The Matadors split a pair of matches last week, picking up the team's first Big West win, surprising UCSD 3-0 in La Jolla before returning home to lose 0-3 to the
Tritons.
The Anteaters are 8-13 overall and 1-5 versus Big West opponents. UCI's lone league win is over No. 2 Long Beach State at the Bren.
UCI dropped a pair of matches to No. 6 UC Santa Barbara last week. The Anteaters had 58 kills in the first contest, the most in a match that didn't go five this
season and tied for fifth most overall in 2022.
Both teams have had road woes. UCI is 1-9 away from the Bren, while CSUN 1-7 away from Northridge. The Anteaters' lone win on the road came in Irvine, across town at Concordia in five sets on Mar. 5.
With the injury bug hitting the team, UCI has used three different lineups in the last four matches.
UCI is 2-5 in five set matches this season.
The Anteaters are a dangerous team, topping three ranked teams (Long Beach State, Pepperdine, Stanford) and taking four other teams that were ranked in the top 10 to five.
SANI CONTINUES TO SHINE
After putting away a Big West best 28 kills against UC San Diego, sophomore Francesco Sani had 26 kills versus UC Santa Barbara last week. The 26 kills are tied for third most in the conference this season.
He also owns the fifth best mark by a Big West player with 24 kills against Stanford.
Sani leads the squad and is 10th nationally with a 3.91 kill average. He ranks 12th in points per game with a 4.49 mark.
The outside hitter has recorded at least one ace in each of the last five matches, including a career-high four versus George Mason.
STEPPING IN
Several players have had to step in over the last couple of weeks.
Middle blocker Aiden Wolf-Nielsen has started the last four matches and tied his career-high with nine kills in the first meeting with the Gauchos. He is averaging 1.33 kills and 1.00 blocks per set
Outside Akhil Tangutur has averaged 7.3 kills over the last three matches. He has a season-high10 kills in the second meeting with UCSD.
Setter Brian Garcia made his first start at UC Santa Barbara and logged 76 set assists over the two matches versus the Gauchos. He is averaging 6.91 set assists and 0.73 digs on the year.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
In the national rankings, the Anteaters rank 11th in assists (11.77), 15th in blocking (7.67) and 16th in kills (12.19).
Connor Campbell ranks 11th in blocks at 1.06, while Hilir Henno is 11th in aces (0.49), 19th in kills (3.55) and 14th in points (4.39).
HENNO HAPPENINGS
Hilir Henno, who has missed the last three matches with an injury, is second on the team in kills (3.55) and points (4.39).
His 19 digs versus Stanford are second most by a Big West player and his six aces against Long Beach State are tied for third most overall and top the list for aces in a Big West contest.
No. 14 UC Irvine at CSUN
Friday, Apr. 8 | 7:00 PM | The Matadome
Live Stats
Watch: ESPN+
CSUN at No. 14 UC Irvine
Saturday, Apr. 9 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats
Watch: ESPN+
FIRST SERVE
No. 14 UC Irvine will travel to CSUN Friday (Apr. 6) for a 7:00 p.m. match at the Matadome before returning to the Bren Events Center Saturday (Apr. 9) for a 7:00 p.m. first serve.
The dedication of Court 21 will happen before the match begins on Saturday.
COURT 21 DEBUTS
It will be a special night Saturday when Court 21 will be played on for the first time. The Taraflex court is one of only six used on the men's side.
"Court 21" is a tribute to the life of Tim Vorenkamp who signed with UC Irvine in the class of 2015. Tim was diagnosed at age 13 with synovial sarcoma, an exceptionally rare form of cancer. Over the years he experienced countless chemotherapy and radiation and relapses. But through it all, he continued to play volleyball, wearing the number 21. And while he did not play at UCI (passing away on January 10, 2016) in what would have been his freshman year, his legacy will live on in the Bren Events Center.
STORYLINES
The series is deadlocked at 36-36 all-time.
The teams each won 3-1 on their home court last season.
CSUN enters the week 6-11 overall and 1-5 in the Big West.
The Matadors split a pair of matches last week, picking up the team's first Big West win, surprising UCSD 3-0 in La Jolla before returning home to lose 0-3 to the
Tritons.
The Anteaters are 8-13 overall and 1-5 versus Big West opponents. UCI's lone league win is over No. 2 Long Beach State at the Bren.
UCI dropped a pair of matches to No. 6 UC Santa Barbara last week. The Anteaters had 58 kills in the first contest, the most in a match that didn't go five this
season and tied for fifth most overall in 2022.
Both teams have had road woes. UCI is 1-9 away from the Bren, while CSUN 1-7 away from Northridge. The Anteaters' lone win on the road came in Irvine, across town at Concordia in five sets on Mar. 5.
With the injury bug hitting the team, UCI has used three different lineups in the last four matches.
UCI is 2-5 in five set matches this season.
The Anteaters are a dangerous team, topping three ranked teams (Long Beach State, Pepperdine, Stanford) and taking four other teams that were ranked in the top 10 to five.
SANI CONTINUES TO SHINE
After putting away a Big West best 28 kills against UC San Diego, sophomore Francesco Sani had 26 kills versus UC Santa Barbara last week. The 26 kills are tied for third most in the conference this season.
He also owns the fifth best mark by a Big West player with 24 kills against Stanford.
Sani leads the squad and is 10th nationally with a 3.91 kill average. He ranks 12th in points per game with a 4.49 mark.
The outside hitter has recorded at least one ace in each of the last five matches, including a career-high four versus George Mason.
STEPPING IN
Several players have had to step in over the last couple of weeks.
Middle blocker Aiden Wolf-Nielsen has started the last four matches and tied his career-high with nine kills in the first meeting with the Gauchos. He is averaging 1.33 kills and 1.00 blocks per set
Outside Akhil Tangutur has averaged 7.3 kills over the last three matches. He has a season-high10 kills in the second meeting with UCSD.
Setter Brian Garcia made his first start at UC Santa Barbara and logged 76 set assists over the two matches versus the Gauchos. He is averaging 6.91 set assists and 0.73 digs on the year.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
In the national rankings, the Anteaters rank 11th in assists (11.77), 15th in blocking (7.67) and 16th in kills (12.19).
Connor Campbell ranks 11th in blocks at 1.06, while Hilir Henno is 11th in aces (0.49), 19th in kills (3.55) and 14th in points (4.39).
HENNO HAPPENINGS
Hilir Henno, who has missed the last three matches with an injury, is second on the team in kills (3.55) and points (4.39).
His 19 digs versus Stanford are second most by a Big West player and his six aces against Long Beach State are tied for third most overall and top the list for aces in a Big West contest.
Players Mentioned
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