Wednesday, January 31
Irvine, CA
7:00 PM
UCLA
at
UC Irvine
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
MVB Plays Two With No. 7 UC Irvine
January 30, 2024 | Men's Volleyball
Bruins Play Two with No. 7 UC Irvine — Fifth-ranked UCLA (6-2) heads down the freeway to play on Wednesday at No. 7 UC Irvine (5-1) at 7 p.m. The two teams will then return to the court on Friday at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Coach John Speraw came to UCLA from UCI where he led the Anteaters to three NCAA titles (2007, 2009, 20112), two MPSF regular season titles (2006, 2009) and a couple of MPSF Tournament crowns (2007, 2012).
• First Serve at UC Irvine (Wed. Jan. 31): 7 p.m. PT (Bren Center)
Video: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/0bdb220b-5f3a-47cc-9e74-926664e996f5/redirected/true
Live Stats: https://ucirvinesports.com/sidearmstats/mvball/summary
• First Serve vs. UC Irvine (Fri. Feb. 2): 7 p.m. PT
Video: https://pac-12.com/live/ucla
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=498657
The Bruins are in the middle of a six-match string of battles against Big West Conference opponents. Last week, UCLA lost to UC Santa Barbara in five sets despite a career-best 16 kills from Alex Knight and then went on to defeat UC San Diego in straight sets behind Ethan Champlin's 17 kills. A year ago, the Bruins captured both matches played against UC Irvine, each in four sets. UCLA hit over .350 in both matches, but UCI had a 15-14 edge in aces. UCLA enjoyed the advantage in total blocks by a 18.5 to 12.0 count. Last season the Bruins compiled a 12-1 record against Big West opponents, with the lone loss coming at Hawai'i. Next week, the Bruins play a pair of matches versus top-rated Long Beach State.
After eight matches, UCLA owns a 84.0 to 42.5 edge over opponents in total blocks and 56 to 31 margin in service aces. It has out hit the first eight opponents by a combined .384 to .212.
UCLA and Rankings — UCLA was voted No. 5 in this week's AVCA polls and No. 5 by Off the Block. The Bruins have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll at some point in seven of the last eight seasons (not in 2021) ... The Bruins have risen as high as No. 1 in the AVCA poll in five seasons under Coach John Speraw -- 2024,2023, 2022, 2016, 2014 ... UCLA has ended a season ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll a record 10 times (1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995,1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2023) over the years.
Ranking and Stats Notes — After recording two block solos last week, Merrick McHenry enters the UCI matches needing one more BS to join Garrett Muagututia (2007-10, 44 BS) at the top of the school list for career block solos ... UCLA entered the week leading the nation in hiittng %, at .384. It rated fourth nationally in blocks/set (2.9) and 10th in set assists (11.59/set).
So far in 2024, UCLA has three double-digit block efforts (Lewis, Loyola,OSU,UCSB), one double-digit ace performance (Lewis-14) and has hit at least .400 in three matches. Two Bruins rate among the nation's top 10 this season in categories -- Andrew Rowan is sixth in aces/set (0.62) and Guy Genis is ninth in blocks/set (1.17).
Last season marked the second straight season in which the Bruins topped the nation in hitting percentage after posting a .374 mark in 2022. UCLA hit at least .400 in 17 matches in 2023. The Bruins had seven matches in '23 with at least 10 aces, including the championship match against Hawai'i (UCSD-18, Ohio St.-11, UCI-10, CUI-13, Purdue Ft. Wayne-10, Stanford-11, Hawai'i-10). UCLA recorded double-digit total blocks in 14 matches with a high of 18.5 against Pepperdine.
MPSF — The Bruins will begin Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) action in mid-February having won 19 straight regular-season league contests over the past two seasons since a loss at Stanford (Mar. 11, 2022). First up for the Bruins is a home date with Pepperdine on Feb. 14. UCLA, which finished atop the 2023 MPSF standings with a 12-0 record, is picked to repeat by the coaches ... The '24 Pre-season MPSF coaches poll: 1-UCLA, 2-Stanford, T3-BYU, T3-GCU, 5-USC, 6-Pepperdine, 7-CUI ... this year's MPSF Post-Season Tournament will be held at USC on April 17-20 with the league's auto bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
• First Serve at UC Irvine (Wed. Jan. 31): 7 p.m. PT (Bren Center)
Video: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/0bdb220b-5f3a-47cc-9e74-926664e996f5/redirected/true
Live Stats: https://ucirvinesports.com/sidearmstats/mvball/summary
• First Serve vs. UC Irvine (Fri. Feb. 2): 7 p.m. PT
Video: https://pac-12.com/live/ucla
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=498657
The Bruins are in the middle of a six-match string of battles against Big West Conference opponents. Last week, UCLA lost to UC Santa Barbara in five sets despite a career-best 16 kills from Alex Knight and then went on to defeat UC San Diego in straight sets behind Ethan Champlin's 17 kills. A year ago, the Bruins captured both matches played against UC Irvine, each in four sets. UCLA hit over .350 in both matches, but UCI had a 15-14 edge in aces. UCLA enjoyed the advantage in total blocks by a 18.5 to 12.0 count. Last season the Bruins compiled a 12-1 record against Big West opponents, with the lone loss coming at Hawai'i. Next week, the Bruins play a pair of matches versus top-rated Long Beach State.
After eight matches, UCLA owns a 84.0 to 42.5 edge over opponents in total blocks and 56 to 31 margin in service aces. It has out hit the first eight opponents by a combined .384 to .212.
UCLA and Rankings — UCLA was voted No. 5 in this week's AVCA polls and No. 5 by Off the Block. The Bruins have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll at some point in seven of the last eight seasons (not in 2021) ... The Bruins have risen as high as No. 1 in the AVCA poll in five seasons under Coach John Speraw -- 2024,2023, 2022, 2016, 2014 ... UCLA has ended a season ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll a record 10 times (1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995,1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2023) over the years.
Ranking and Stats Notes — After recording two block solos last week, Merrick McHenry enters the UCI matches needing one more BS to join Garrett Muagututia (2007-10, 44 BS) at the top of the school list for career block solos ... UCLA entered the week leading the nation in hiittng %, at .384. It rated fourth nationally in blocks/set (2.9) and 10th in set assists (11.59/set).
So far in 2024, UCLA has three double-digit block efforts (Lewis, Loyola,OSU,UCSB), one double-digit ace performance (Lewis-14) and has hit at least .400 in three matches. Two Bruins rate among the nation's top 10 this season in categories -- Andrew Rowan is sixth in aces/set (0.62) and Guy Genis is ninth in blocks/set (1.17).
Last season marked the second straight season in which the Bruins topped the nation in hitting percentage after posting a .374 mark in 2022. UCLA hit at least .400 in 17 matches in 2023. The Bruins had seven matches in '23 with at least 10 aces, including the championship match against Hawai'i (UCSD-18, Ohio St.-11, UCI-10, CUI-13, Purdue Ft. Wayne-10, Stanford-11, Hawai'i-10). UCLA recorded double-digit total blocks in 14 matches with a high of 18.5 against Pepperdine.
MPSF — The Bruins will begin Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) action in mid-February having won 19 straight regular-season league contests over the past two seasons since a loss at Stanford (Mar. 11, 2022). First up for the Bruins is a home date with Pepperdine on Feb. 14. UCLA, which finished atop the 2023 MPSF standings with a 12-0 record, is picked to repeat by the coaches ... The '24 Pre-season MPSF coaches poll: 1-UCLA, 2-Stanford, T3-BYU, T3-GCU, 5-USC, 6-Pepperdine, 7-CUI ... this year's MPSF Post-Season Tournament will be held at USC on April 17-20 with the league's auto bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Players Mentioned
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