UC Irvine fell to No. 2 Hawaii in a clean sweep (25-22, 25-22, 25-22) at the Bren Events Center, marking the Anteaters' first defeat by a 3-0 margin this season. Despite strong performances from William D'Arcy and Andrej Jokanovic, the team struggled with service errors, tallying 18 overall, which hindered their chances. Hawaii boasted a .466 hitting percentage for the match, significantly overpowering UC Irvine's defense. This loss drops UC Irvine to a 15-5 record, now tied for third place in the Big West at 3-3. The match attracted a crowd of 3,067, the fourth largest in program history.

By the Numbers
  • Hawaii hit .466 for the match, setting a record against UC Irvine's defense this season.
  • UC Irvine made 18 service errors, while Hawaii out-dug them 37-18.
State of Play
  • UC Irvine's performance saw standout contributions from William D'Arcy (13 kills) and Andrej Jokanovic (nine kills, six aces).
  • The Anteaters are experiencing their first back-to-back losses of the season.
What's Next

Looking ahead, UC Irvine will host CSUN on April 9 at 6:00 p.m., aiming to bounce back and improve their conference standing.

Bottom Line

UC Irvine must address service issues and strengthen their defense to avoid further setbacks in their quest for a strong finish in conference play.