Saturday, August 15
Irvine, Calif.
12:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
USC (Exhibition)
Photo by: Matt Brown
Anteaters Set to Host No. 20 USC in Exhibition Match
August 13, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
No. 20 USCΒ at UC Irvine (Exhibition)
Date:Β Saturday, Aug. 15
Time:Β 12 p.m. (PDT)
Location:Β Bren Events Center (5,000) - Irvine, Calif.
Admission is complimentary. Event parking is $16 and can be purchased in advance.
UC Irvine women's volleyball will host No. 20 USC in a 12 p.m. exhibition match at the Bren Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 15.Β
FIRST SERVE
β’ The Anteaters and Trojans have met 13 times since 1976. USC owns a 12-1 advantage in the all-time series, but UCI won the most recent meeting. On Aug. 27, 2016, the 'Eaters upset the seventh-ranked Trojans, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. It was the highest ranked win by a UC Irvine team since toppling No. 6 Cal in 2009. It also remains the best of four ranked wins in head coach Ashlie Hain's tenure.
β’ USC was ranked 20th in the AVCA Preseason Poll that was released on Aug. 10. The Trojans have 11 returners from a 2025 squad that went 25-7 overall and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. They also bring in seven newcomers with six true freshmen and one transfer.
β’ Last year, UCI swept eventual Big West tournament champion and NCAA Regional participant Cal Poly, 3-0, in the regular-season finale. That victory clinched the Anteaters' spot in the six-team Big West Championship. They have made an appearance in the conference tournament every year since its inception in 2023.Β
β’ UC Irvine has named three team captains in senior Nicole Feliciano, fifth-year Kendra MacDonald, and redshirt freshman Jessica Bates. Feliciano, a three-year starting setter enters the 2026 campaign ranked fifth in program history with 2,619 career assists. Bates, a 5-foot-11 setter/opposite, had two triple-doubles in seven matches played last year before her season was cut short due to an injury. MacDonald is also coming off a 2025 season-ending injury and hopes to be back on the court by conference. She was averaging 2.18 kills and 1.56 digs per set before being sidelined.Β
β’ The Anteaters bring in a talented incoming class that was ranked 36th in the nation by Prep Dig. In the middle, freshmen Taylor Boice and Vani Tatoulian will be looking to make an immediate impact. Boice was a first-team all-league and all-area selection at Redondo Union High School, while she also won two national titles with her club team, SC Rockstar. Tatoulian, who stands at 6-foot-3, was the 2025 CIF-Southern Section Division 4 Player of the Year and league MVP at La Cañada High School. Junior transfer Whitney Wallace and freshman Tata Vongfak are poised to fill the vacancy left by four-year starting libero and All-Big West selection Campbell Jensen. Outside hitters Kaia Ciszewski and Memphis Burnett also have the potential to contribute right away.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine has one more exhibition match as it will host Concordia at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. The 'Eaters then hit the road to officially start the season, traveling to Seattle to face host Washington (Aug. 28), IU Indy (Aug. 29), and San Diego State (Aug. 30).
Date:Β Saturday, Aug. 15
Time:Β 12 p.m. (PDT)
Location:Β Bren Events Center (5,000) - Irvine, Calif.
Admission is complimentary. Event parking is $16 and can be purchased in advance.
UC Irvine women's volleyball will host No. 20 USC in a 12 p.m. exhibition match at the Bren Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 15.Β
FIRST SERVE
β’ The Anteaters and Trojans have met 13 times since 1976. USC owns a 12-1 advantage in the all-time series, but UCI won the most recent meeting. On Aug. 27, 2016, the 'Eaters upset the seventh-ranked Trojans, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. It was the highest ranked win by a UC Irvine team since toppling No. 6 Cal in 2009. It also remains the best of four ranked wins in head coach Ashlie Hain's tenure.
β’ USC was ranked 20th in the AVCA Preseason Poll that was released on Aug. 10. The Trojans have 11 returners from a 2025 squad that went 25-7 overall and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. They also bring in seven newcomers with six true freshmen and one transfer.
β’ Last year, UCI swept eventual Big West tournament champion and NCAA Regional participant Cal Poly, 3-0, in the regular-season finale. That victory clinched the Anteaters' spot in the six-team Big West Championship. They have made an appearance in the conference tournament every year since its inception in 2023.Β
β’ UC Irvine has named three team captains in senior Nicole Feliciano, fifth-year Kendra MacDonald, and redshirt freshman Jessica Bates. Feliciano, a three-year starting setter enters the 2026 campaign ranked fifth in program history with 2,619 career assists. Bates, a 5-foot-11 setter/opposite, had two triple-doubles in seven matches played last year before her season was cut short due to an injury. MacDonald is also coming off a 2025 season-ending injury and hopes to be back on the court by conference. She was averaging 2.18 kills and 1.56 digs per set before being sidelined.Β
β’ The Anteaters bring in a talented incoming class that was ranked 36th in the nation by Prep Dig. In the middle, freshmen Taylor Boice and Vani Tatoulian will be looking to make an immediate impact. Boice was a first-team all-league and all-area selection at Redondo Union High School, while she also won two national titles with her club team, SC Rockstar. Tatoulian, who stands at 6-foot-3, was the 2025 CIF-Southern Section Division 4 Player of the Year and league MVP at La Cañada High School. Junior transfer Whitney Wallace and freshman Tata Vongfak are poised to fill the vacancy left by four-year starting libero and All-Big West selection Campbell Jensen. Outside hitters Kaia Ciszewski and Memphis Burnett also have the potential to contribute right away.
UP NEXT: UC Irvine has one more exhibition match as it will host Concordia at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. The 'Eaters then hit the road to officially start the season, traveling to Seattle to face host Washington (Aug. 28), IU Indy (Aug. 29), and San Diego State (Aug. 30).
Players Mentioned
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballSunday, August 09
Wednesday, December 03
Tuesday, December 02
Tuesday, November 25
