Men’s Volleyball: ‘Eaters’ expectations remain high
The 2014 UC Irvine men’s volleyball team saw its season end in disappointment at Stanford University.
If the Anteaters can play their last match at Maples Pavilion this year, there won’t be much to be disappointed about.
Third-year coach David Kniffin’s program, which has won four NCAA titles in the last eight seasons, would love to get a chance to play for No. 5 at the NCAA championships hosted by Stanford in May.
The ‘Eaters were eliminated in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament quarterfinals last season, losing to eventual NCAA runner-up Stanford in five sets to narrowly miss what most would have considered an upset.
But Kniffin believes the razor-thin margin of defeat in the season finale should quiet those who support any notion that an 18-11 campaign (15-9 and tied for fifth in the MPSF regular-season standings), marked a step backward for the Anteaters.
UCI, after all, was 9-3 in its last 12 matches and its 10 MPSF road wins topped the conference. But a pair of hard-fought losses to the Cardinal, including the second-to-last regular-season contest at UCI, doomed the Eaters’ hopes of being one of six teams in the expanded NCAA championships field.
“I think those inside the program and close to the program recognize that losing to Stanford by two points twice at the end of the season is about as close as we could get to where we needed to go,” Kniffin said. “I felt like us and Stanford were the two best teams in the country last year. So, to go five sets and lose twice in an eight-day period is hard.”
Similarly difficult will be attempting to replace decorated starters Scott Kevorken (a first-team All-American middle blocker), Connor Hughes (a former Final Four MVP), and fellow outside hitter Jeremy Dejno, who led the team in kills last season. Also graduated is middle blocker Collin Mehring, who owns the UCI record for career hitting percentage (.485).
But Michael Brinkley, a two-time first-team All-American libero, and talented opposite Zack La Cavera, both seniors, return to lead a lineup that Kniffin calls seemingly young, but deceptively experienced.
La Cavera, a high-flying left-hander, was second on the team with 284 kills last season, when his 31 aces topped the squad.
“Zach is clearly the go-to guy for us this season and he has fully embraced the role,” Kniffin said of the 6-foot-4 standout.
Brinkley continues to provide leadership equally as valuable as his defensive wizardry, and senior Travis Woloson, who figures to start at outside hitter, is another proven leader who will see more playing time this season.
“Travis has been in the program for multiple championships, he played against those other guys every day in practice [the last four years], and he is one of the best competitors in the gym,” Kniffin said.
Reinforcements have arrived from the now-defunct Pacific program, as 6-10 junior middle Marty Ross and 6-4 sophomore outside hitter Thomas Hodges, both Tigers transfers, figure to step into starting roles.
“[Ross] has already been a two-year starter in [the MPSF], so he has played against all the top teams,” Kniffin said. “In a lot of ways, I think he is just a late bloomer in volleyball. He has matured as a person, which has helped his game.”
Hodges, an Australian who was on the MPSF All-Freshman team and received honorable mention in all-conference voting last season, ranks among the most talented sophomores in the nation, Kniffin said.
Michael Saeta, a 6-5 sophomore, is slated to start at setter, where senior Roberto Frazzoni, in his second season after arriving from Chile, should add support, Kniffin said.
Andrew Benz, a 6-9 sophomore who played sparingly last season, and 6-7 junior Jason Agopian, will battle for time at the other middle blocker spot.
Tamir Hershko, a 6-4 sophomore who just returned from training with the Israeli national team, will be counted upon to contribute at outside hitter, where 6-9 junior Kyle Russell and 6-4 sophomore Phil Friedman also figure in the mix, Kniffin said.
While things are coming together early in the season, which begins Monday at home against No. 9-ranked Lewis at 7 p.m., Kniffin said size, strength and serving will be the team’s calling card.
“I think we will out-muscle some teams early, while we are figuring out how to be consistent with ball control,” Kniffin said. “But I put us in the top three [nationally] right now in terms of what we can do.
“I believe we can serve with the best teams in the country right now. Every guy that we will put on the court is going to be point scorer.”
UCI, ranked No. 8 in the nation, was picked to finish fifth in the MPSF.
Twitter:@BarryFaulkner5