UC Irvine Hosts Lewis and Penn State This Week

March 7, 2010

UCI TAKES A BREAK FROM MPSF ACTION TO HOST NON-CONFERENCE FOES: UC Irvine (10-10, 6-9) will take a break from Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action to host Lewis Monday (Mar. 8) at 7:00 p.m. in Crawford Court then battle Penn State Wednesday (Mar. 10) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

VERSUS THE OPPONENTS: UCI leads both Lewis (2-0) and Penn State (4-3) in the series records.

Lewis is 11-4 overall and have lost to UCLA (0-3) and defeated Cal Baptist (3-0) on their California roadtrip. The Anteates haven’t played the Flyers since a 3-1 victory in 2002.

Penn State enters the match with a 13-2 overall record. The Anteaters beat the Nittany Lions, 3-1 in the 2007 National Championship semifinals in 2007.

ATTACK MODE: UCI ranks third in the MPSF in hitting percentage with a .325 mark.  The Anteaters have only dipped under a .300 hitting percentage four times this season. Five UCI players average more than two kills per set.

DUFAULT LIGHTS IT UP: Outside hitter Jordan DuFault led UCI in both matches last week with 25 kills against UC Santa Barbara and 20 versus UCLA. He has recorded double-digit kills in each of the last 11 matches. The junior averages 4.13 kills and 4.77 points per set overall.

CHARGING RHINO: Senior Cole Reinholm came off the bench versus UCLA to spark UCI with 19 kills and two aces. He hit .405 (19-4-37) against the Bruins adding five digs.

ANTEATERS SPLIT MATCHES LAST WEEK: UCI split a pair of matches last week on the road, falling at No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, 3-1 then upsetting No. 5 UCLA, 3-1.

WYNNE WYNNE SITUATION: Junior Kevin Wynne had a season-high .600 hitting percentage and 11 kills versus UC Santa Barbara. Kevin was fed the ball by brother Ian Wynne who dished a career-high 68 set assists versus Gauchos. Ian has averaged 11.67 digs over the last three matches.

WEBSTER SCOOPS EM UP: Junior libero Kenny Webster recorded a career-high 18 digs versus UCLA. His 18 digs is the most by an Anteater player this season.

CLARK LEADS: Sophomore opposite Carson Clark leads the team and is third in the MPSF in kills (5.07) and in points (5.77). He leads the team and ranks second in the MPSF in aces with a 0.40 average. Clark has recorded 20 or more kills in 11 matches this year.