Reserve keys UCI’s ‘Steller’ home opener

IRVINE — Still awaiting his return from knee surgery in 2005 that forced him to redshirt last season, UC Irvine sophomore Jon Steller said he was mindful not to overdo things in the Anteaters’ men’s volleyball home debut Friday against Hawaii.

And though a limit on the number of times he could jump kept him on the bench until about midway through the second game, Steller did more than enough to help No. 1-ranked UCI sweep the No. 4-ranked Warriors, 30-28, 30-26, 30-21, in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener before 2,370 at the Bren Events Center.

Steller, a 6-foot-7 left-handed opposite, had five kills in five attempts in Game 2, to help the Anteaters (5-0) erase a 13-9 deficit.

He also added an ace serve and one block assist to help the hosts establish control of the match.

Steller finished with seven kills, a .385 hitting percentage, one ace, three block assists and two solo blocks to help handle Hawaii.

“I knew he had only been cleared for a certain number of jumps, because he had knee surgery last year,” UCI Coach John Speraw said. “So, when I wanted to maybe get some production out of him halfway through Game 2, I asked the trainer if he was cleared to go. She said yeah. I put him in there, and he was just on a tear right from the start.”

Steller stepped in for senior Matt Webber, a second-team All-American in 2006 who struggled a bit Friday. Webber finished with five kills and hit negative .067.

“I was considering [Steller’s] health, so I almost took him out to start the third game,” Speraw said. “But I was told the trainers were keeping track of his jumps and he was still under that amount, so we kept him in there. I was really hoping we could finish up there in Game 3, because if we got to Game 4 or Game 5, I would have had to make a change.”

After Steller changed the momentum in UCI’s favor, the Anteaters jumped to leads of 7-2, 12-5 and 19-10, in Game 3.

By then, Hawaii, which lost two All-Americans from a team that finished second to UCI in the MPSF last season, had too much to overcome.

UCI senior middle blocker David Smith was not among the struggling veterans. He had 11 kills in 13 total attacks, tying his career high with an .846 hitting percentage.

Junior middle Aaron Herrell added eight kills and a team-high six total blocks.

“Our middles were good,” Speraw said. “And [senior setter Brian] Thornton [47 assists] deserves a lot of credit for the middles’ production, because even when we weren’t passing well, he was able to set the ball in a spot where they could still get swings. You have to be a great setter in order to do that.”

Senior outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky led UCI with 12 kills and seven digs. But he hit just .148, as UCI hit .273 as a team.

Hawaii hit a paltry .112 as a team and did not have anyone reach double figures in kills.

Steller and a handful of other reserves were needed on a night when some of the Anteaters’ veteran standouts were less than at their best.

“I liked our contribution off the bench first and foremost,” Speraw said. “We didn’t bring many guys off the bench last year. I’ve already done more subbing this year, than I did last season. That’s good for us and it’s going to make us a better team.”

Steller was eager to please Speraw.

“It has been a long time, so I was having a blast out there,” said Steller, who had only been cleared to practice recently and had missed the Anteaters’ first four matches.

“It was wonderful [to play in front of a big crowd]. I’d forgotten what that was like, it had been so long. I was expecting to be a serving specialist tonight. I just wanted to come in and contribute and do the best I could.”

Sophomore Taylor Wilson also came off the bench to help UCI’s cause. The 6-7 outside hitter had five kills and finished with a .400 hitting percentage.

The two teams meet again tonight at 7:30 at the Bren Center.

“Last year, we swept them, and they came back and beat us the next night,” Speraw said. “I’m expecting a whole different match [tonight].”

Hawaii All-American Lauri Hakala, who played opposite last season, had a team-high nine kills at outside hitter.