UC Irvine Release 2/16/09

http://ucirvinesports.cstv.com/sports/m-volley/spec-rel/021609aaa.html

No. 2 UC Irvine Battles No. 5 USC and No. 3 Pepperdine On The Road

Important MPSF Showdowns for Anteaters this week

Feb. 16, 2009

UC IRVINE TRAVELS TO USC; PEPPERDINE: Second-ranked UC Irvine (11-2, 7-1) will travel to No. 5 USC Wednesday (Feb. 18) at 7:00 p.m. in the Galen Center then heads to No. 3 Pepperdine Friday (Feb. 20) at 7:00 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse.

BIG MATCH-UPS THIS WEEK: UCI leads the MPSF with a 7-1 record and will face 6-1 Pepperdine and 6-1 USC on the road.

VS THE OPPONENTS: UCI holds an 18-17 lead in the series records with USC, capturing the last eight outings. The Trojans are 9-2 overall, winning their last four matches. USC’s only two losses were to No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Pepperdine.

Pepperdine owns a 36-9 advantage in the series records, but UCI has won the last three meetings. The Waves are 7-1 overall, suffering their first loss of the year at Stanford, 3-1, last week. Pepperdine will host UCLA Wednesday before entertaining the Anteaters.

ON THE RECORD: The Anteaters’ 11 wins are the most by an MPSF school this year. UCI, who leads the MPSF, has won seven consecutive matches and 10 of their last 11 contests.

FAST START: UCI’s 11-2 record is tied for the second best start in school history. The 2007 squad also began the year 11-2, while John Speraw’s first team in 2003 started the season 12-1.

IN THE RANKINGS: UC Irvine moved up to No. 2 in the Bison/AVCA Coaches Poll. The Anteaters have been ranked in the nation’s top 10 for 58 consecutive weeks.

DIGGING MACHINE: Libero Brent Asuka recorded a season-high 18 digs in the win over UC Santa Barbara. His 18 digs are the fourth most in the country this season. The senior has averaged 13 digs over the last three matches and is averaging 2.50 per set overall.

WYNNE IN THE MIDDLE: Sophomore Kevin Wynne recorded a career-high 14 kills while hitting .650 (14-1-20) in the victory over UC Santa Barbara last week. The middle blocker also added seven total blocks. For the year, Wynne is averaging 1.90 kills and 1.40 blocks per set.

ANTEATERS SLIP PAST UC SANTA BARBARA: UCI needed five games to defeat No. 12 UC Santa Barbara at home in the lone match of the week.

Sophomore Jordan DuFault had 15 kills to led a quartet of Anteaters with double figure kills. DuFault also had 12 digs in the victory. Jon Steller and Kevin Wynne each added 14 kills, a career-high for Wynne who hit .650 (14-1-20) in the middle. Taylor Wilson added 13 kills, while libero Brent Asuka had a season-high 18 digs in the win.