UC Irvine women's volleyball will have a new look in 2023, featuring seven new players as head coach Ashlie Hain graduated seven players from the squad that went 20-10 overall and 13-7 in the Big West a year ago.

"We will be developing a new identity for this team. We will be solid on defense and find new players to step in for the offense we lost."

Here are five things to keep an eye out for in 2023.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD
With the loss of a majority of the scoring, the Anteater offense will be focused on outside hitters Marianna Bertolone and Kendra MacDonald, who will become the anchors of the offense.

Bertolone, a junior outside hitter, played in 111 sets and averaged 2.15 kills and 2.01 digs. She recorded double-digit kills 10 times, including a career-high 20 kills in a win against UC Santa Barbara.

As a freshman, MacDonald started the final nine matches, averaging 1.35 kills and 1.50 digs overall. She had a career night with 10 kills and 15 digs at CSUN.

"Kendra and Mari are better because they are seeing more in-system sets. Mari is always consistent, and Kendra has been a natural leader on the court."

On the right side, Ellen Veargason returns after averaging 1.29 kills and 0.94 blocks per set in 2022.

Other returners include outside hitter Emma Spindt and Keelan Williams who gained valuable playing experience last season. The duo contributed 1.52 and 0.96 kills per set, respectively. Redshirt Emma Napoleon and freshman Maia Niemen round out the pin hitters.

DEFENSE POSSE
Defense will be a cornerstone of the Anteaters in 2023. UCI returns Big West All-Freshman team honoree Campbell Jensen and adds transfers Lexi Gruszczynski and Becca Sakoda.

"Campbell led the Big West last season and that's her goal again in 2023."

Jensen had an impressive freshman campaign, ranking first in the Big West and 37^th nationally in digs per set with a 4.79 average. She recorded double-figure digs in all but four matches last season, posting a career-best 32 digs at UC San Diego.  

Gruszczynski played a year at Cal where she had career-best 14 digs versus UCLA, while Sakoda transferred from Illinois where she was a member of the Illini's 2021 NCAA Regional final team.

"Lexi and Becca are mature and bring versatility to the team."

Amanda Leinbach is the veteran of the defensive squad.

ADDING EXPERIENCE
Along with Gruszczynski and Sakoda, UCI will gain the talents of transfers Isabella Scarlett, Ella Gardiner and Hunter Riedl.

Scarlett will be a familiar face after transferring from UC Riverside. The middle blocker averaged 2.53 kills and 3.01 points per set for the Highlanders last season. She also added 18 aces, 84 digs and 62 blocks.

Gardiner, a middle blocker, played two seasons at Fairfield, made two NCAA appearances, and averaged 1.98 kills and 1.11 blocks, while Reidl, who had her 2022 season hampered by an injury at Sacred Heart, looks to bounce back and be a force on the outside.

 "Isabella brings maturity to the middle, while Ella is athletic and has a strong motor that keeps going plus, she has post-season experience. Hunter is gritty and aggressive and can play all-around."

CENTER OF THE COURT
Indy De Smet and Nicole Feliciano will hold down the setting duties in 2023.

De Smet, a junior, averaged 4.69 set assists and 1.99 digs a year ago. She was also lethal at the service line, recording 31 overall.

Feliciano had a successful prep career at Aliso Niguel High School, being named South Coast League MVP and winning a 2021 CIF SS Div 2 Championship.

"Nicole has played at the Open level her whole career and has a lot of experience for a freshman."

At the middle blocker position, Ofure Iselen, Elizabeth Miller and Ally Bolden will be in the mix for playing time.

"Ofure keeps improving and learned a lot from our seniors last year and is a good leader."

END GAME
New in 2023 is the Big West Championship hosted at the Walter Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State.

The Championship will feature the top six teams with first-round action beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 22. After a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, the winners will advance to take on the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in the semifinal round (Nov. 24) with the championship match slated for Saturday, Nov. 25. 

The winner will receive the league's automatic bid into the field of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. 

Strategically Coach Hain knows that pacing her team through the season and peaking at the end will be important to be in a position to qualify for the tournament.

"The margins have been small in this conference so it might come down to sets or points to qualify. The schedule is important, and I think ours is tough. The focus will be week-to-week and there will be an urgency in substitutions and playing time because points will matter. There will have to be an urgency to win."