Daily Pilot 01/31/09 - "UCI: Settle and Hum"

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/01/31/sports/uci/dpt-spucivolley013109.txt

Published Saturday, January 31, 2009 12:09 AM PST
Sports
UCI:
settle and hum
VOLLEYBALL: After woeful start, Anteaters quell nerves and conquer UCLA, with Taylor aiding four-game victory Friday.

By Barry Faulkner

For a photo gallery, click here.

IRVINE — All it took was a little context and chronology to turn what appeared to be a disastrous start into a valuable lesson for the UC Irvine men’s volleyball team Friday night.

The No. 4-ranked Anteaters settled some collective nerves, then systematically manhandled No. 8-ranked UCLA for a 20-30, 30-24, 30-17, 30-28 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation victory before a spirited crowd of 1,564 at the Bren Events Center.

“The most valuable thing about this match was Game 1,” UCI Coach John Speraw said. “I think it’s maybe the most important game that we’ll have this season, up until the playoffs. It’s impossible, or very rare, when you can simulate the nervousness and the energy and how you manage that early in a big match.

“We had a big crowd and the guys knew it. It was against UCLA, the guys knew it. They came out and they were nervous and they were tight and they didn’t play very well. And the team on the other side of the net was playing great ... You kind of get used to the big crowds and you kind of get used to playing all the teams in our conference, then all of a sudden you get to the final four, and if that’s where we’re hoping to be, and they’re going to have that same kind of experience. They may have to look back on this match and remember what happened, and how to manage that and maybe remember how they played and have some strategies about how to improve. That’s why I loved it.”

UCI senior Taylor Wilson, who had a season-high 17 kills and hit .387 in what Speraw called his best match of the season, also enjoyed the atmosphere, and his team’s ability to eventually embrace it.

“It was the first time we had seen quite that size of a crowd this season and we were a little jittery at first,” Wilson said. “I think it’s really sweet seeing the Bren this packed. And, once we got our nerves out of the way in the first game, we were real fired up in the second game.

“That’s the first time we’ve been blown out at the beginning of a match and I think some people were getting in each other’s way a little bit and some people were saying a few negative things here and there. But I think the guys kind of settled everybody down, we gained a little momentum, and did a pretty nice job of settling in.”

Speraw said Wilson, as well as senior opposite Jon Steller, who had a team-high 18 kills and hit .400, were the ones primarily responsible for UCI (8-2, 4-1 in conference) settling for its fourth straight win, its seventh in its last eight matches.

“One of the things we’ve learned from years past, is that if you can have one good opposite and one outside hitter play well, you’re going to have a good shot,” Speraw said. “This season, it has been either Carson Clark or Stellar [playing well at opposite], because both of them have been great. And for most of the matches, [the top outside hitter] has really been Jordan DuFault. Tonight, it wasn’t Jordan ... It was about Taylor producing for us and it’s really nice to see. Really nice.”

Wilson who battled injuries all of last season and was slowed early this season by a sprained ankle, helped the Anteaters overcome an impressive performance by UCLA junior outside hitter Garrett Muagututia. The Bruins’ beast, whose stocky build might be more suited to football than volleyball, had 22 kills, a .390 hitting percentage, and was the visitors’ leading service receiver. He also had a match-high four ace serves, all in the first game, six digs and two block assists.

Senior setter Ryan Ammerman had 53 assists for the ’Eaters, helping the hosts hit .350 as a team.

Senior libero Nick Spittle came off the bench to post a match-high 10 digs, while junior middle blocker Ryan Simmons (seven block assists), Ammerman (six), Wilson and sophomore middle Kevin Wynne (five each) helped UCI post a 15-5 to 10 team blocking advantage.

Newport Harbor High products Kyle Caldwell (five kills and two aces) and Brett Perrine (three kills and two block assists) contributed for the Bruins (4-5, 2-3).

Bruins Busted Up by the 'Eaters

Steller and the 'Eater Crew

UC Irvine Topples UCLA, 3-1
Team effort propels Anteaters

Jan. 30, 2009

Final Stats

Irvine, Calif. – The fourth-ranked UC Irvine men’s volleyball team started slow then rolled to a 3-1 (20-30, 30-24, 30-17, 30-28) victory over No. 8 UCLA at the Bren Center Friday in front of 1,564 fans..

UCI improves to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the MPSF, while UCLA falls to 4-5 on the year and 2-3 in league play.

The Anteaters used a solid team effort with Jon Steller recording 18 kills to lead UCI. Senior outside hitter Taylor Wilson had a season-high 17 kills and five blocks, while junior Jordan DuFault added nine kills, nine digs and four blocks. Middle blockers Bryan Simmons and Kevin Wynne recorded eight and seven kills, respectively with Simmons totaling a match-high seven blocks. Setter Ryan Ammerman quarterbacked the team to a .350 hitting percentage while dishing a season-high 53 set assists to go with nine digs and six blocks. Libero Nick Spittle led all players with a season-best 10 digs.

UCI out-blocked the Bruins, 15.5-10 and fired seven aces to UCLA’s four.

UCLA’s Garrett Muagututia had a match-high 22 kills and was followed by Jack Polales with nine kills. Setter Matt wade had 44 set assists and a team-high eight digs.

After being tied 15-15 in the first set, UCLA went on a 7-0 run which included four aces by Muagututia to open a 22-15 advantage on their way to the 30-20 victory.

In the second set, UCI led 19-17 before getting a pair of kills from Carson Clark and one each from Wilson and Wynne combined with two Bruin attack errors to break open the set, 25-17. Wilson would put away eight kills in the set to spark UCI. The Anteaters, who managed just one block in the first set, rejected 6.5 in the second.

UCI outscored UCLA 8-3 in a run which included four Anteater blocks to take a 20-12 lead in the third set and never looked back as they won 30-17. Steller paced UCI with seven kills.

In the fourth set, UCI separated themselves with three straight points on a UCLA hitting error followed by a kill by Wilson and an ace by Steller to take the 15-12 lead. UCI maintained at least a two-point lead until the Bruins used three Muagututia kills to close within 29-28. Steller pounded a kill to end the match, 30-28.

#8 UCLA vs. #1 UC Irvine Friday!

Brent "Sake" Asuka, Jon Steller, and Kevin "Fish" Wynne: Eater Comraderie

UC IRVINE HOSTS UCLA: Fourth-ranked UC Irvine (7-2, 3-1) will host No. 8 UCLA Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

Steller Shares MPSF Co-Player of the Week

STELLER NAMED MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Jon Steller was named co-MPSF Player of the Week with Pepperdine’s Paul Carroll. Steller combined for 35 kills while hitting .403 for the week. He averaged 5.64 points and 1.00 blocks per set. It is the third career MPSF weekly honor for the senior.

Eaters Cage the Tigers

UC Irvine Sweeps Princeton, 3-0

Cole Reinholm fires career-high five aces

Jan. 26, 2009

Final Stats

Irvine, Calif. – Fourth-ranked UC Irvine defeated Princeton, 3-0 (30-27, 30-21, 30-20) in a non-conference match at Crawford Court Monday.

Freshman Carson Clark led all players with 14 kills and a team-high seven digs. Senior Taylor Wilson totaled 12 kills, hitting .500 (12-1-22) from the outside. Cole Reinholm recorded a season-high 10 kills and a career-best five service aces. Freshman middle blocker Austin D’Amore added three kills and a match-high five total blocks, while libero Kenny Webster recorded four digs. Senior setter Nick Goldsbrough-Reardon totaled 27 set assists and was followed by Anthony Spittle with 11 set assists. Greg Gelb added one dig.

Princeton was paced by Vincent Tuminelli with 10 kills. Phillip Rosenberg had eight kills and a match-high eight digs, while Carl Hamming had eight kills in the loss.

UCI led 18-17 then peeled off four straight points to open up a 22-17 lead. Princeton would get as close as 29-27 before Austin D’Amore banged a ball from the middle to give UCI the first set, 30-27. Senior Taylor Wilson had the hot-hand, hitting .800 on five kills in six attempts without an error.

In the second set, Cole Reinholm fired a pair of service aces during a 5-3 Anteater spurt to put UCI up 15-10. The Anteaters would take the set 30-21.

Reinholm fired three more aces in the final set as UCI took the game 30-20.

UCI will host No. 8 UCLA Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

The Beach Gets Bashed

The 6'7"+ Club: Steller, Simmons & Wilson Regulating the Net

UC Irvine Takes Down Long Beach State, 3-1
Anteaters take 9-6 lead in Black & Blue Series

Jan. 23, 2009

Final Stats


LONG BEACH, Calif. – Fifth-ranked UC Irvine had three players with double-digit kills as the Anteaters defeated No. 7 Long Beach State, 3-1 (34-32, 32-30, 28-30, 30-27) Friday night at the Walter Pyramid.

The Anteaters (6-2, 3-1 MPSF) rallied down 27-23 in the first set to knot the score at 28-28. The teams traded points until UCI ended the set scoring three straight on a kills by Ryan Ammerman and Jon Steller and a Long Beach attack error, 34-32.

In the second set, UCI again trailed 21-19 before a Jordan DuFault kill was followed by a Nick Spittle service ace to tie the score at 21 all. The teams would trade points until UCI held a late lead at 27-25, but a service error was followed by a Dean Bittner kill for Long Beach to make the set all square at 27-27. Tied at 30-30, a triple block by Steller, DuFault and Kevin Wynne gave the Anteaters set point. DuFault ended the game with a service ace, 32-30.

Long Beach State (3-3, 2-1 MPSF) won the third set, 30-28 behind a .419 hitting percentage.

In the fourth set, UCI scored three straight on a kill by DuFault, and two consecutive LBSU hitting errors to open a 22-16 cushion. The Anteaters led 29-25 only to watch the Forty-Niners record kills by Jim Baughman and Dan Alexander to close with 29-27, but DuFault ended the match with a kill, 30-27.

Senior Jon Steller led UCI with 19 kills and a season-high six block assists. Outside hitter Jordan DuFault totaled 16 kills, six digs and seven total blocks. Senior Taylor Wilson added 11 kills and five digs, while setter Ryan Ammerman had 43 set assists, six digs and four block assists. Junior Bryan Simmons tied his career-high with eight block assists and sophomore Kevin Wynne had eight kills and six block assists. Libero Brent Asuka led UCI with nine digs.

Dean Bittner paced Long Beach State with 25 kills, three aces and 10 digs. Josh Riley matched a career-high with 14 kills while leading the team with a .522 hitting percentage. Tommy Pestolesi had 15 kills and 14 digs in the loss.

LBSU out-dug UCI, 50-32, but the Anteaters owned the net with an 18-10 advantage.

With a win on the road, UCI gains three points in the Black & Blue Rivalry Series presented by Duke’s of Hungtington Beach. The Anteaters now lead the series 9-6.

UCI will host Princeton Monday (Jan. 26) in a non-conference match at 7:00 p.m. in Crawford Court.

Thoughts on UCSD & Long Beach St.

Eater family, friends and fans,

The boys took on UCSD on Monday night and surprisingly took the Tritons in 3 sets. Why am I surprised? Because this was the same team that took the Anteaters to 5 sets last year and beat us twice. I thought there would be a little more fight in the Tritons, but hey, it made for an early night home.

Key combos were the Bryan (AKA, Gene or Richard) Simmons and Ryan Ammerman block at the right pin. You've got a 6'7" & 6'8" combo patrolling the net out there making it difficult to get a ball by the block. There were quite a few double stuffs at the outside because of this tandem. Stepping up their play this season is OH Jordan Dufault, (AKA, JD). He has really a consistent offensive performer and puts up a formidable block.

Tonight will be at the 'Mid @ Long Beach St. The 49ers boast a pretty talented team, add on former Eater assistant coach, John Hawks, and you know it's going to be a highly competive matchup. The 49ers come out with Klipsch, Bittner, Pestolesi, Watten, Baughman and Alexander. The Niners pack some heat, but the Eater block is big. Listen in tonight at http://ucirvinesports.cstv.com/multimedia/on-air.html.

Checkin' out,
Rob

Tritons Downed at Crawford Court

UC Irvine Hits a Blistering .517 To Sweep UC San Diego, 3-0

All-American Jon Steller leads all players with 16 kills

Jan. 21, 2009

Final Stats

Irvine, Calif. – Fifth-ranked UC Irvine hit .517 for the match as the Anteaters swept UC San Diego, 3-0 (30-24, 30-22, 30-19) at Crawford Court Wednesday.

UCI (5-2, 2-1) hit a season-high .517, committing just nine errors to go with 54 kills in 87 attempts. The Anteaters dominated the net, out-blocking the Tritons 14-4. UCSD (1-3, 0-2) hit .218 for the match.

UC Irvine senior All-American Jon Steller led all players with a season-best 16 kills. Sophomore Jordan DuFault added 12 kills, while hitting .417 and tied his career-high with seven block assists. Senior Taylor Wilson hit .500 (9-1-16) and recorded five digs and five blocks, while junior Bryan Simmons matched his career-high with eight kills, hit .778 and led the team with a career-best eight block assists. Setter Ryan Ammerman totaled 46 set assists, two aces and a career-high seven block assists. Middle blocker Kevin Wynne put away six kills and had four blocks.

Joel Davidson was the only UCSD player to reach double-figure kills, totaling 10. Phil Bannan had 23 set assists, while Calvin Ross had eight kills without an error and hit .727 (8-0-11).

After leading 21-18 in the first set, UCI went on a 4-1 run which included kills by Jordan DuFault and Kevin Wynne and a couple of Anteater blocks to open a 25-19 cushion. UCI would take the first set 30-24 behind Jon Steller’s .800 hitting performance. Steller had eight kills and one error on 10 swings.

Taylor Wilson recorded five kills in UCI’s 30-22 second set win. The Anteaters opened up a 5-1 lead in which Wilson had two kills and never looked back.

UC San Diego hit just .034 in the third set as UC Irvine won 30-19.

The Anteaters will travel to Long Beach State Friday (Jan. 23) for a 7:00 p.m. first serve at The Pyramid.