Photo by: Regents of the University of California
No. 7 Anteaters; No. 6 Waves Tangle Twice This Week
February 07, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 7 UC Irvine at No. 6 Pepperdine
Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7:00 PM | Firestone Fieldhouse
Live Stats Watch
No. 6 Pepperdine vs No. 7 UC Irvine
Friday, Feb. 10 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Watch
FIRST SERVE
No. 7 UC Irvine will meet No. 6 Pepperdine twice this week, starting with a match Wednesday (Feb. 8) in Malibu at 7:00 p.m. The teams will battle again in Irvine on Friday (Feb. 10) at 7:00 p.m.
STORYLINES
UCI is 7-3 overall, looking to snap a three-match losing streak.
The Anteaters dropped a pair of matches to then-No. 9 Grand Canyon on the road last week.
Pepperdine is 8-2 overall coming off a 1-1 week against UC Santa Barbara.
The Waves swept the Gauchos in Malibu then suffered a 3-2 setback in Santa Barbara.
In 2022, the teams split a pair of matches, each winning on their home court.
The Waves won 3-0 at Firestone. Doug Dahm recorded eight total blocks on one solo and a career-high seven assisted. Jaylen Jasper topped Pepperdine with 11 kills and eight blocks.
At the Bren, Jasper led all players with 23 kills, but the Anteaters won 3-1. Hilir Henno led UCI with 15 kills.
UCI beat Pepperdine to win MPSF tournament titles in 2007 and 2015.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
UCI is ranked fifth nationally in kills (12.79) and assists (12.21). The Anteaters are seventh in hitting percentage (.353), 10th in blocks (2.397) and 14th in digs (8.74).
Individually, Francesco Sani is seventh in the country and first in the Big West in kills (4.29) and points (5.01). He also tops the league and is eighth nationally in attempts (8.82). The outside hitter put down 26 kills in the second meeting with BYU, tied for fifth the most in the nation this season.
Opposite Cole Gillis is seventh in hitting percentage (.448) and sophomore Hilir Henno is sixth in aces (.720) nationally. Middle blocker Doug Dahm is 12th in blocking (1.08).
Gillis' .800 hitting percentage (16-0-20) against Concordia is the best in the country this season for attempts between 16-20.
MORE SANI
Outside hitter Francesco Sani has recorded double-figure kills in all 10 matches this season and in each of the last 25 outings dating back to Feb. 11, 2022.
The junior has totaled 20 or more kills three times this season.
Sani has 14 aces, recording at least one ace in each of the last seven matches, including a season-high three aces in the first match with GCU.
DAHMINATION
Middle blocker Doug Dahm has recorded at least four block assists in five of the last seven matches. He totaled a season-high five block assists in the first match with BYU.
HELLO HENNO
Sophomore Hilir Henno has recorded a team-high 21 aces and has 66 for his career. He is seven aces shy of moving into a tie for 10th all-time. The lefty has recorded a season-high five aces twice in 2023.
The outside hitter is averaging 3.38 kills, 0.72 aces, 1.76 digs and 4.34. He had a season-best 18 kills in the last meeting with Grand Canyon.
IRVINE TIES
The Waves' Director of Operations Victoria Dennis is a UCI alumna. She played for the Anteaters from 2012-16, earning first team All-Big West honors as a senior. Her brother Sean was a middle blocker for the men's volleyball team from 2018-21.
COURT 21
Before the match Friday, UCI will recognize the Vorenkamp Family for their generous donation of Court 21.
The Taraflex court, which is one of only six used on the men's side, 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. Throughout his cancer journey, volleyball was a constant, 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 and call to action: To live for others. to play with passion and to never give up on hope, lives on in the Bren Events Center.
No. 7 UC Irvine at No. 6 Pepperdine
Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7:00 PM | Firestone Fieldhouse
Live Stats Watch
No. 6 Pepperdine vs No. 7 UC Irvine
Friday, Feb. 10 | 7:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats Watch
FIRST SERVE
No. 7 UC Irvine will meet No. 6 Pepperdine twice this week, starting with a match Wednesday (Feb. 8) in Malibu at 7:00 p.m. The teams will battle again in Irvine on Friday (Feb. 10) at 7:00 p.m.
STORYLINES
UCI is 7-3 overall, looking to snap a three-match losing streak.
The Anteaters dropped a pair of matches to then-No. 9 Grand Canyon on the road last week.
Pepperdine is 8-2 overall coming off a 1-1 week against UC Santa Barbara.
The Waves swept the Gauchos in Malibu then suffered a 3-2 setback in Santa Barbara.
In 2022, the teams split a pair of matches, each winning on their home court.
The Waves won 3-0 at Firestone. Doug Dahm recorded eight total blocks on one solo and a career-high seven assisted. Jaylen Jasper topped Pepperdine with 11 kills and eight blocks.
At the Bren, Jasper led all players with 23 kills, but the Anteaters won 3-1. Hilir Henno led UCI with 15 kills.
UCI beat Pepperdine to win MPSF tournament titles in 2007 and 2015.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
UCI is ranked fifth nationally in kills (12.79) and assists (12.21). The Anteaters are seventh in hitting percentage (.353), 10th in blocks (2.397) and 14th in digs (8.74).
Individually, Francesco Sani is seventh in the country and first in the Big West in kills (4.29) and points (5.01). He also tops the league and is eighth nationally in attempts (8.82). The outside hitter put down 26 kills in the second meeting with BYU, tied for fifth the most in the nation this season.
Opposite Cole Gillis is seventh in hitting percentage (.448) and sophomore Hilir Henno is sixth in aces (.720) nationally. Middle blocker Doug Dahm is 12th in blocking (1.08).
Gillis' .800 hitting percentage (16-0-20) against Concordia is the best in the country this season for attempts between 16-20.
MORE SANI
Outside hitter Francesco Sani has recorded double-figure kills in all 10 matches this season and in each of the last 25 outings dating back to Feb. 11, 2022.
The junior has totaled 20 or more kills three times this season.
Sani has 14 aces, recording at least one ace in each of the last seven matches, including a season-high three aces in the first match with GCU.
DAHMINATION
Middle blocker Doug Dahm has recorded at least four block assists in five of the last seven matches. He totaled a season-high five block assists in the first match with BYU.
HELLO HENNO
Sophomore Hilir Henno has recorded a team-high 21 aces and has 66 for his career. He is seven aces shy of moving into a tie for 10th all-time. The lefty has recorded a season-high five aces twice in 2023.
The outside hitter is averaging 3.38 kills, 0.72 aces, 1.76 digs and 4.34. He had a season-best 18 kills in the last meeting with Grand Canyon.
IRVINE TIES
The Waves' Director of Operations Victoria Dennis is a UCI alumna. She played for the Anteaters from 2012-16, earning first team All-Big West honors as a senior. Her brother Sean was a middle blocker for the men's volleyball team from 2018-21.
COURT 21
Before the match Friday, UCI will recognize the Vorenkamp Family for their generous donation of Court 21.
The Taraflex court, which is one of only six used on the men's side, 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. Throughout his cancer journey, volleyball was a constant, 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 and call to action: To live for others. to play with passion and to never give up on hope, lives on in the Bren Events Center.
Players Mentioned
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