This weekend, No. 2 Hawaii will clash with No. 5 UC Irvine in a highly anticipated men鈥檚 volleyball matchup at the Bren Events Center on April 3 and 4, both at 6:00 PM PT. UC Irvine, with a 15-3 record overall and 3-1 in the Big West, seeks to improve on its mixed results against rival Hawaii, which won all three matchups last year. The Anteaters aim for momentum after recent victories over UC San Diego and hope to leverage their home-court advantage, despite expected traffic due to concurrent UCI baseball games.

By the Numbers
  • UCI holds a 15-3 season record, with a 3-1 mark in the Big West.
  • Hawaii currently leads the Big West at 4-0 and boasts a 21-3 overall record.
  • UCI has played 7 five-set matches this season, with a 4-3 record in those matches.
State of Play
  • UC Irvine is currently ranked 15th nationally in kills (12.39) and assists (11.54).
  • Andrej Jokanovic leads the Anteaters with a kill average of 3.49 and recent acclaim as Big West Freshman of the Week.
  • Hawaii鈥檚 Tread Rosenthal ranks second nationally in set assists, averaging 10.97 per game.
What's Next

Following this weekend鈥檚 matches, both teams will continue their Big West campaigns with hopes to secure top playoff positions, particularly as UCI aims for redemption against Hawaii after last year's losses. The performance during this showdown could heavily influence rankings and momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

Bottom Line

This weekend鈥檚 matches are crucial for both UC Irvine and Hawaii, as they could determine playoff seeding and team morale. With both teams showcasing elite talent and determination, fans can expect an intense battle that may have lasting implications for the rest of the season.