No. 5 UC Irvine Faces No. 18 UC Santa Barbara This Week
April 09, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
No. 5 UC Irvine at No. 18 UC Santa Barbara
Thursday, Apr. 10 | 7:00 PM | The Thunderdome
Live Stats ESPN+
No. 18 UC Santa Barbara at No. 5 UC Irvine
Saturday, Apr. 12 | 6:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats ESPN+
FIRST SERVE
No. 5 UC Irvine will take on No. 18 UC Santa Barbara this week in a pair of matches. The teams start in Santa Barbara Thursday (Apr. 10) at the Thunderdome at 7:00 p.m. before heading to the Bren Events Center Saturday (Apr. 12) for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.
STORYLINES
UC Irvine moved down one spot in the rankings to No. 5.
The Anteaters are 16-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big West.
UCI enters the week playing the toughest schedule in the nation.
UCI is 6-4 on the road and 6-2 at home in 2025.
The Gauchos are 11-12 overall and 2-4 in the Big West.
UCSD dropped two matches to Long Beach State last week, 1-3 and 0-3.
UCI has won the last four outings between the teams. UCSB's swept the season series against Anteaters in 2022 for their last victory against UCI.
IN THE HOME STRETCH
With just four matches to play, seeding for the Big West Championship is up for grabs.
Hawaii and Long Beach are tied at the top with 5-1 records and will meet this weekend.
UC San Diego follows at 3-3 then UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara at 2-4 and CSUN at 1-5.
UC Irvine and CSUN will meet in the final series Apr. 17 &19.
CHASING NCAA HISTORY
Last week, Hilir Henno moved into second in NCAA all-times aces with 236. He moved past Loyola Chicago's Joseph Smalzer (234) for second place.
He is now 19 away from UC Santa Barbara's Evan Patak's record of 255 set from 2004-07.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The Anteaters are ranked third nationally in aces (2.07) and seventh in hitting percentage (.337), 12th in assists (11.69), and 11th in kills (12.49) in the country.
Individually, Hilir Henno is second in points (5.35) and aces (.743) and third in kills (4.34) in the country, while middle blocker Maxim Grigoriev is ninth in aces at .500.
MR. D'ARCY
Opposite William D'Arcy hit .692 (9-0-13) in the win against Long Beach State then he had a double-double in the win over the Tritons, tying his career-high with 19 kills and season-high 10 digs, while hitting .571.
The junior is second in the Big West and 11th in hitting percentage at .397.
On the season, D'Arcy is averaging 1.85 kills and 1.02 digs.
FLEXEN HIS MUSCLE
Nolan Flexen is fifth in the Big West in kills (3.43) and points (4.14),
He is also ninth in blocks (0.88) and hitting percentage (.316).
REGULAR SEASON FINALE COMING NEXT
UCI will host CSUN Apr. 17 at 6:00 p.m. Following the match, UCI will honor its graduating players Hilir Henno, Joe Karlous, Maxim Grigoriev and Nolan Flexen following the match.
No. 5 UC Irvine at No. 18 UC Santa Barbara
Thursday, Apr. 10 | 7:00 PM | The Thunderdome
Live Stats ESPN+
No. 18 UC Santa Barbara at No. 5 UC Irvine
Saturday, Apr. 12 | 6:00 PM | Bren Events Center
Live Stats ESPN+
FIRST SERVE
No. 5 UC Irvine will take on No. 18 UC Santa Barbara this week in a pair of matches. The teams start in Santa Barbara Thursday (Apr. 10) at the Thunderdome at 7:00 p.m. before heading to the Bren Events Center Saturday (Apr. 12) for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.
STORYLINES
UC Irvine moved down one spot in the rankings to No. 5.
The Anteaters are 16-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big West.
UCI enters the week playing the toughest schedule in the nation.
UCI is 6-4 on the road and 6-2 at home in 2025.
The Gauchos are 11-12 overall and 2-4 in the Big West.
UCSD dropped two matches to Long Beach State last week, 1-3 and 0-3.
UCI has won the last four outings between the teams. UCSB's swept the season series against Anteaters in 2022 for their last victory against UCI.
IN THE HOME STRETCH
With just four matches to play, seeding for the Big West Championship is up for grabs.
Hawaii and Long Beach are tied at the top with 5-1 records and will meet this weekend.
UC San Diego follows at 3-3 then UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara at 2-4 and CSUN at 1-5.
UC Irvine and CSUN will meet in the final series Apr. 17 &19.
CHASING NCAA HISTORY
Last week, Hilir Henno moved into second in NCAA all-times aces with 236. He moved past Loyola Chicago's Joseph Smalzer (234) for second place.
He is now 19 away from UC Santa Barbara's Evan Patak's record of 255 set from 2004-07.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The Anteaters are ranked third nationally in aces (2.07) and seventh in hitting percentage (.337), 12th in assists (11.69), and 11th in kills (12.49) in the country.
Individually, Hilir Henno is second in points (5.35) and aces (.743) and third in kills (4.34) in the country, while middle blocker Maxim Grigoriev is ninth in aces at .500.
MR. D'ARCY
Opposite William D'Arcy hit .692 (9-0-13) in the win against Long Beach State then he had a double-double in the win over the Tritons, tying his career-high with 19 kills and season-high 10 digs, while hitting .571.
The junior is second in the Big West and 11th in hitting percentage at .397.
On the season, D'Arcy is averaging 1.85 kills and 1.02 digs.
FLEXEN HIS MUSCLE
Nolan Flexen is fifth in the Big West in kills (3.43) and points (4.14),
He is also ninth in blocks (0.88) and hitting percentage (.316).
REGULAR SEASON FINALE COMING NEXT
UCI will host CSUN Apr. 17 at 6:00 p.m. Following the match, UCI will honor its graduating players Hilir Henno, Joe Karlous, Maxim Grigoriev and Nolan Flexen following the match.
Players Mentioned
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