Men’s Volleyball: ‘Eaters handle Eagles in exhibition

In the third set of Wednesday’s season-opening exhibition match against Concordia University, UC Irvine men’s volleyball coach David Kniffin chomped through an apple while observing from the sideline.

Meanwhile, Kniffin’s Anteaters, ranked second in the national preseason polls, were making a preseason snack of the NCAA Division II visitors from down the street.

UCI breezed in the first three sets, 25-17, 25-13, 25-13, then took an “opportunity” fourth set, 25-21, to show that it is ready for the season-opening tournament at BYU, beginning Jan. 8.

Kniffin used the occasion to rest returning first-team All-American Tamir Hershko and he sprinkled his lineups liberally with reserves.

Junior middle blocker Andrew Benz was the only one of five returning starters to see action until deep into the second set and 13 ‘Eaters contributed on the stat sheet.

Marty Ross, a senior middle blocker who played sparingly last season after transferring from Pacific, shared match-high-kill honors with eight. His efficiency with his 11 swings gave Ross a .727 hitting percentage to help the hosts hit .355 as a team, 298 points better than the Eagles. The 6-foot-10 veteran also had a match-best seven block assists to help UCI post a 16-9 advantage in team blocks.

Kyle Russell, a 6-9 senior outside hitter whose playing time was limited last season due to off-court matters, came off the bench to record eight kills and hit .353. He also boomed a match-best three ace serves and chipped in three block assists.

Junior Thomas Hodges, another little-used transfer from Pacific, had six kills and hit .364, while Reid Dominguez, a sophomore outside hitter, had seven kills and a .353 hitting percentage

Dante Chakravorti, a freshman setter from Illinois, had 25 assists, while returning starter Michael Saeta, a junior, came off the bench to contribute 17 assists and three kills.

Karl Apfelbach, a 6-8 lefty opposite who redshirted last season while serving an apprenticeship to All-American Zack La Cavera, had seven kills, four block assists and a match-best 12 digs for the winners.

David Parker, a freshman who shared libero duties with sophomore Dillon Hoffman, had 11 digs in a reserve role.

Benz looked sharp with five kills on seven swings (.714) in two sets, while Jason Agopian, a 6-7 senior middle blocker who earned All-MPSF honors last spring, had three kills and four block assists in limited reserve duty.

“I liked that we had the opportunity to get some guys on the court,” Kniffin said. “That’s not something we did last year during the season, so it’s great to play an exhibition.

“I really liked what the new guys did, honestly,” Kniffin said. “Everybody is playing very conscious and intentional volleyball, and that’s a good place to be this early.”

Kniffin said Hershko not playing was merely a concession to his busy offseason with the Israeli national team.

“It’s nothing that is worrying us right now,” Kniffin said of the junior standout’s availability.

Junior outside hitter Phillip Friedman started and recorded five kills for UCI, which finished 28-5 and reached the NCAA semifinals last season.

UCI trailed, 3-1 and 5-4 in the opening set, but did not trail again until the fourth set, which both coaches agreed upon before the match to play, regardless.