UC IRVINE NAMED HOST FOR 2008 NCAA MEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

January 11, 2007

IRVINE, Calif. --- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has designated UC Irvine as host of the 2008 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship. The formal announcement was made during a luncheon attended by campus, City of Irvine and NCAA representatives at the Bren Events Center Thursday afternoon.

The semifinal matches are scheduled for May 1 with the championship match May 3, 2008, at the 5,000-seat Bren Center on the UCI campus.

This will be the first time that UCI has hosted the national championship for men’s volleyball. The last national tournament that UCI hosted was the 1998 men’s water polo semifinals and final at Corona del Mar High School.

"We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our volleyball program and look forward to an exciting event," said UCI Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Michael Gottfredson.
"The NCAA recognized the Orange County community as a growing area of volleyball support,” said John Speraw, currently in his fifth season as head coach at UCI. “I think our success over the last couple of years put us in a position to show the community’s tremendous appreciation of the sport and help us host this event.

“It is a great honor and opportunity to have a great national sporting event on our campus. All of the UCI students and faculty should be proud to host this event,” Speraw said.

UCI reached the semifinals of the 2006 national championship at Penn State University. This year’s NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship will be contested at Ohio State University’s St. John Arena May 3 and 5.

The top-ranked Anteaters (4-0) host No. 4 Hawaii Friday (Jan. 12) night at 7:00 and Saturday evening at 7:30 in the Bren Events Center. UCI has nine home matches scheduled in the Bren Center this season.