THIS WEEK
No. 5 UC Irvine at No. 18 UC San Diego
Friday, Mar. 1 | 7:00 PM | LionTree Arena
Live Stats    Watch

No. 18 UC San Diego vs No. 5 UC Irvine
Sunday, Mar. 3 | 6:00 PM | Crawford Hall
Live Stats    Watch
 
FIRST SERVE
No. 5 UCI begins Big West action at No. 18 UC San Diego Friday (Mar. 1) at 7:00 p.m. at LionTree Arena. The two teams return to Irvine Sunday (Mar. 3) for a 6:00 p.m. match at Crawford Court.
 
Seating in Craword Hall is limited so fans are encouraged to buy tickets early.
 
STORYLINES
UCI is riding a four-match winning streak.
 
The Anteaters are 10-4 overall, beating Concordia twice last week, 3-0.
 
UCI is ranked second in the country in kills (13.11) and assists (12.38).
 
The squad is also ranked eighth in blocks (2.47) and hitting percentage (.331).
 
In the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, UCI was picked third, while UCSD was tied for 5^th.
 
The Tritons enter the week 6-8 overall and will host Charleston Wednesday before playing the Anteaters.
 
UCSD opened the conference schedule with a win over UC Santa Barbara.
 
The Anteaters have won three in a row against the Tritons, sweeping the Tritons twice last season.
 
The Anteaters hit .542 in the match at the LionTree Arena with Hilir Henno leading the team with 10 kills, hitting .562 (10-1-16). Maxim Grigoriev was impressive, hitting .727 (8-0-11).
 
COUNTING ON CAMPBELL
Connor Campbell dominated from the middle, hitting .708 (18-1-24) over two matches with Concordia. The middle blocker started the week, hitting .545 with seven kills (7-1-11) and three block assists.
 
In the second meeting with the Golden Eagles, he did not commit an error putting away 11 a career-high tying 11 kills and hitting .846 (11-0-13). His .846 mark is tied for ninth best in the country in attempts 10-14. For the week, the senior hit .708 (18-1-24).
 
Campbell is fourth in the Big West in blocks (1.02)

NATION'S BEST
Outside hitter Hilir Henno leads the nation in points per set at 5.23 and is second in kills with a 4.38 average. The junior is also seventh in the country in hitting percentage with a .405 mark.
 
Among Big West players, he is fourth in aces (.491) and sixth in digs (1.42).
 
Henno has recorded double-figure kills in every match this season, including 20 or more four times. His 29 kills against USC are the third most in the country this year.
 
The lefty is sitting at 159 career aces, two shy of catching Michael Saeta for second all-time at UCI.
 
He has been named Big West Offensive Player of the Week twice in 2024 and AVCA National Player of the Week on Feb. 19.

DARCY ON CAREER ROLL
William D'Arcy had a career-high 11 kills, hitting .409 (11-2-22) in the first meeting with Concordia. The junior added eight digs and three block assists. The next night, he bettered his career-high with 12 kills.

He has bettered his career-best in three of the last four matches.

For the season, D'Arcy averages 2.24 kills and 1.62 digs per set.

SHEWARD SETS UCI UP FOR SUCCESS
Grad student Brett Sheward leads the Big West and is ranked third nationally in set assists with a 10.70 average.  He is ranked fifth in digs with a 1.46 average.
 
He has guided the Anteaters to a hitting percentage of .350 or better six times this season, including over .400 twice.
 
Sheward's 40 set assists in the first meeting with Concordia is the most in three-set match by a Big West player this season.
 
TANGUTUR TIME
Outside hitter Akhil Tangutur has started the last four matches and is averaging 6.5 kills in that span.
 
The grad student had a season-high nine kills, hitting .667 (9-1-12) in the first meeting with Concordia.
 
ANTEATERS HEAD TO THE ISLANDS NEXT
UCI will play its final non-conference matches next week in Hawaii.
 
The Anteaters will take on No. 1 Grand Canyon, No. 14 Lewis on a neutral court and No. 3 Hawaii in a non-conference tilt.