ASICS Invitational
Menlo vs No. 3 UC Irvine
Thursday, January 9 / 7:00 p.m. / Rob Gym
Live Stats

Tusculum vs No. 3 UC Irvine
Friday, Jan. 10 / 2:00 p.m. /Rob Gym
Live Stats  

Missouri S&T vs No. 3 UC Irvine
Saturday, Jan. 11 / 4:30 p.m. / Rob Gym
Live Stats

FIRST SERVE
Third-ranked UC Irvine will open the 2025 season at the ASICS Invitational hosted by UC Santa Barbara Thursday-Saturday (Jan. 9-11) at Rob Gym. The Anteaters will join Big West foes UCSB and CSUN in playing Menlo, Tusculum and Missouri S&T over the three days.

UCI will take on Menlo Thursday at 7:00 p.m. followed by Tusculum Friday at 2:00 and Missouri S&T Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

STORYLINES
The Anteaters start the year ranked No.3 in the AVCA preseason poll, the highest opening ranking since 2016 when UCI was second.

UC Irvine was picked second in the Big West Coaches' preseason poll with two first place votes.

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.

Outside hitter Hilir Henno and middle blocker Maxim Grigoriev were named to the Big West Coaches' Preseason Team.

Henno, the reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, is two aces shy of tying Carson Clark for the UCI career record at 183.

While a different format over the years, UC Irvine has done well at the UCSB Invitational, winning the tournament in 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2013. The Anteaters have gone on to capture the NCAA Championship in three of those four seasons.

ASICS OPPONENTS
Menlo, a member of the MPSF this season, picked up their first Division I victory with a 3-1 victory over UC Santa Cruz to start the season.

Last season, the Oaks competed in the NAIA, going 12-8 overall, ending the year in the semifinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference to The Master's University.

Tusculum is a member of the Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (IVA).

The Pioneers were 8-23 last season, coming in third at the IVA Tournament.

TU returns the Offensive Player of the Year Deklan Wingo.

Missouri S&T is an independent, but will be joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2026.

The Miners were 10-12 last season.

LOOKING AHEAD
UCI will face No. 6 BYU in the home opener Jan. 22 at the Bren Events Center. The two teams will tangle again on Jan. 24. Both matches begin at 6:00 p.m.