UCI over USC

[robonthemic]

WILSON; WEBBER LEAD NO. 1 UC IRVINE OVER USC, 3-1
see original story and photo at www.mvball.uci.edu
see box score: www.mvball.uci.edu/Boxscores/2007/ucivb09.htm

Irvine, Calif. -- Taylor Wilson and Matt Webber each had 18 kills to lead No. 1 UC Irvine to a 3-1 (30-16, 28-30, 30-26, 30-20) victory over 14th-ranked USC Wednesday at the Bren Events Center.

UCI improves to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while USC falls to 2-5 on the year and 1-3 in league play.

UCI sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wilson tied his career-high with 18 kills while adding three aces and five digs. Webber, a senior opposite, collected 18 kills, nine digs and three blocks, including two solos. Reigning National Player of the Week, Jayson Jablonsky totaled 16 kills, tied his career-high with 11 digs, had two aces and three blocks. Middle blocker David Smith hit .471, adding 10 kills and had a match-high seven blocks. Libero Nick Spittle made his first start, recording a career-best eight digs. Senior setter Brian Thornton tallied 55 assists, six digs and three blocks. UCI out-hit the Trojans .346-.192 for the match.

USC was led by C.J. Schellenberg with 17 kills, seven digs and four blocks. Juan Figueroa was the only other Trojan in double-figure kills with 10. Libero Luke Morris had a team-high 11 digs, while middle blocker Andrew Vernon had a team-high five blocks. Setter Jimmy Killian recorded 40 set assists.

UCI jumped out to a 6-1 lead in game one and stretched the margin to 18-9 on their way to a 30-16 win. UCI hit .440 while USC hit -.036 in the first set. The Anteaters recorded six of their 11 match blocks in the first game.

USC lead 14-11 in game two before a pair of Matt Webber kills were followed by a Brian Thornton kill and a Taylor Wilson service ace to give the Anteaters a 15-14 advantage. The score would be tied four times, including the last at 18-18 when two Trojan blocks gave USC a 20-18 lead. The Trojans would lead 29-26 when a USC hitting error plus a Wilson kill for UCI narrowed the score to 29-28. A C.J. Schellenberg kill would give USC the game, 30-28.

In game three, UCI was ahead 11-7, but USC scored four straight to knot the game at 11-11. The Trojans would have a two point cushion on a Juan Figueroa kill and a UCI hitting error, 17-15. The Anteaters went on a 6-3 spurt to take a 21-20 lead on a David Smith kill in the middle. The teams would trade points until UCI used kills by Aaron Harrell and Wilson to go ahead 27-25. USC’s Hunter Current recorded a kill before the Trojans committed three attacking errors to end the game, including a block on Current by Wilson and Smith for a 30-26 UCI game four victory.

Following a tie at 5-5 in game four, UCI would go on a 10-4 run capped by a Wilson ace for the 15-9 lead. USC could get no closer than five the rest of the way as UCI took the game 30-20 and the match 3-1.

UC Irvine will host No. 5 Pepperdine Saturday (Jan. 27) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Center.

[shankapotamus]

Irvine played very balanced tonight. The game 2 loss was a shocker because you could see the motivation level deep after the game 1 hammering of SC. Irvine had a change in tonight's lineup-- Nick Spittle started at the Libero position and Ryan Ammerman came in periodically to give Irvine a bigger block against Shellenberg. Steller came in to serve as well.

Taylor Wilson has been passing well these last few matches for Irvine and Jablo is, well, what can you say, he get's it done with balanced numbers. His consistency is what separates him from other players and he doesn't get rattled (or if he does he hides it well). I thought Irvine was going to get out of tonight in 3 to send former Asst. Coach Hawks home early, but the Trojans elevated their game in 2.

[robonthemic]

For original story, please visit:
www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/01/25/sports/dpt-ucivb25.txt

Published Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:50 PM PST
Sports
'Eaters win again
VOLLEYBALL: UC Irvine, led by 18 kills from Matt Webber and Taylor Wilson, improve to 9-0 with victory over USC.
By David Carrillo Peñaloza

IRVINE — On a night UC Irvine deemed bald as beautiful in honor of men's volleyball coach John Speraw, the fifth-year man made just as bold a move Wednesday.

Instead of going with last year's national newcomer of the year in Brent Asuka at libero, Speraw started Nick Spittle for the first time. And he stuck with him against USC, and Spittle didn't disappoint.

The sophomore helped the top-ranked Anteaters remain undefeated as they won, 30-16, 28-30, 30-26, 30-20, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at Bren Events Center.

"Asuka struggled a little against [UC] Santa Barbara and Nick came in and did a great job," said Speraw of the MPSF match UCI won, 3-2, Saturday, the only match this year that has gone five games for the Anteaters.

"I just kind of watched them in practice the last couple of days, and Nick was still doing a better job."

Throughout the night UCI fans wore bald-headed caps, Asuka, a sophomore, stood near the bald coach and watched the Anteaters not miss much of a beat with Spittle.

In the first game, UCI showcased why it's 9-0, 5-0 in the MPSF. Depth is something Speraw has, as four players finished with at least two kills.

The No. 14 Trojans (2-5, 1-3) couldn't handle hammering shots coming from outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky, middle blocker David Smith (10 kills), opposite Matt Webber (18 kills), and definitely not of outside hitter Taylor Wilson.

Spittle contributed as the defensive specialist, recording a career-best eight digs, one more than what he had against UCSB. Consistency is what Spittle brought throughout, setting up opportunities for Wilson and others to score after setter Brian Thornton distributed the ball.

"He did a great job, solid passing," said Wilson, who for the second straight match finished with 18 kills, a career-best. "[Spittle and Asuka] do a good job competing back and forth. Right now Nick is doing a real good job for us."

Speraw said Spittle is the starter, but that could change.

Helping Spittle fit right in the back was last year's American Volleyball Coaches Assn. National Player of the Year, Jablonsky. The senior's 11 digs matched a career-high.

Jablonsky, the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week, added 16 kills. Many of those came after Thornton set him up, as Thornton finished with 55 assists.

But it was Thornton needing assistance in the second game after USC outside hitter Juan Figueroa nailed him around the groin with a kill. Thornton collapsed to the ground as the Puerto Rican junior celebrated with teammates. He could've used Spittle's help.

"That was some pain right there for sure," Thornton said. "I'm not sure what's going to happen [with our libero position]. I know if Asuka comes back in and if he's not performing, then we throw Nick right in there and he does a good job, and vice versa."

[UCvBall]

Talk about balanced attack, if you look at the stats against USC, Jablonsky, Webber and Wilson all had 34 attempts and 16-18 kills each. Its just amazing to see how deep this team is and how any player on that team no matter your history/accomplishments, whether an All-American or not, can get in there and play great. Coach Speraw is fearless, has all the confidence in the world in every single one of his players and its evident on the floor that the players have that same confidence in their teammates and in themselves. I can only imagine how competitive their practices are. Keep it up Irvine.

[sharp716]

Game 1: UCI played their game and USC couldn't get anything together. UCI's serving accuracy was great. Their blocking was even more notable and impressive.

Game 2: UCI let down and USC picked it up, especially for serving. UCI must have had 7+ missed serves. USC offense got rolling a bit, and UCI began to hit the ball really low, resulting in a lot of blocks for the Trojans.

Game 3: UCI picked it up again, and USC remained tough. This was the most fun game for me to watch. Both sides playing solid volleyball with some good rallies resulting from it.

Game 4: UCI stayed strong, and USC reverted back to their old ways. The most demoralizing point for USC, I felt, was when UCI double blocked OH Matt Anderson from USC straight down, then immediately again on the next play, this time into Anderson's arms (so the play ended with Anderson holding the volleyball like someone holds a baby).

For UCI, "Middle" Spittle, Nick (as opposed to Redshirt S "Little" Spittle, Anthony) did a great job with serve receive and a pretty good job at digging. UCI proved once again that is a very well rounded team that does not need to depend on a single superstar to play well and win. Their team mentality seems to be working well.

For USC, S Killian impressed me a lot, especially with his net play (dumps and jousts vs. OHs). OPP Schellenberg produced steady offense but had horrible defense. L Morris did a solid job. MB Current shows a lot of promise and had a great jump serve.

[bigfan]

From you all who saw the match...USC may be a while from competing for a FF slot.