As we count down to the opening of the 2025 season here are five things to look out for as the Anteaters look forward to another successful season.

POLL POSITION
UC Irvine was picked No. 3 in the AVCA Preseason Poll and were tabbed second in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll.

It is the highest AVCA preseason ranking since 2016 when the squad was No. 2. The Anteaters have been ranked third or higher in the preseason poll nine times, including No. 1 three times.

The Anteaters are coming off a NCAA semifinal appearance and a No. 4 final ranking. UCI ended the year 20-11 overall and were second in the Big West with a 7-3 mark. The Anteaters advanced to the Big West title match for the second consecutive year.

2. HE'S BACKKKKKKKKK!
AVCA National Player of the Year Hilir Henno returns for his senior season. While fans can't wait to see what the three-time All-American can do in 2024, he is looking to add his name to the record book again, just two aces shy of tying Carson Clark (183) for the UCI career record.

The outside hitter already owns the Big West career ace record and holds the UCI season ace mark with 87 in 2023, which is second most in the NCAA all-time for a single season. He also holds the Big West and UCI match record fired a career-high nine aces twice in his career.

3. JOE RUNNING THE SHOW
Veteran Joe Karlous returns to the starting setter role in 2025. The grad student was an honorable mention All-American and All-Big West in 2023.

The setter averaged 9.30 set assists and 1.88 digs per set in 2023, guiding the Anteaters to .592 hitting clip versus Concordia, the second-best mark in the country and tops for a Big West team that season. He also earned Big West Defensive Player of the Week on Mar. 20, 2023.

4. HIGH OCTANE TALENT RETURNS
Maxim Grigoriev, Nolan Flexen and William D'Arcy return to anchor one of the most potent offenses in the country.

Grigoriev joined Henno on the Big West preseason team after garnering AVCA honorable mention and first team All-Big West accolades last season. The middle blocker averaged 2.19 kills, 0.97 digs, 0.88 blocks, while hitting .339 a year ago. The junior led the league in hitting percentage against conference opponents with a .500 mark (59-10-98).

Flexen played in 66 sets and averaged 2.82 kills. The outside hitter posted a career-best 20 kills in the win over Princeton, hitting .667 (20-2-27).

D'Arcy averaged 2.56 kills and 1.31 digs a year ago. He had nine double-digit kill performances, including a career-high 19 kills against then-No. 1 GCU. The junior hit .548 (19-2-31) and recorded 11 digs versus the Antelopes.

Last year, UCI led the country in kills (13.24) and assists (12.53) and were ranked eighth in hitting percentage (.326).

5. NEW FACES
Several new faces will see the court, including redshirt freshmen Shane Aitken and Aidan Rigg as well as true freshman Micah Goss.

With the graduation of Cole Power, Aitken will patrol the backline for the Anteaters, while Rigg is a versatile player that can play at the pin or set and Goss will see action at opposite.

UCI opens the season at the UC Santa Barbara Tournament Jan. 9 versus Menlo. The Anteaters, who have been 20-8 at home over the last two seasons, make their Bren Events Center debut against No. 6 BYU on Jan. 22 at 6:00 p.m.