UCI sweeps quite soundly

IRVINE — Yet again, the UC Irvine men’s volleyball team assured its players, coaches and fans of sweep dreams Saturday night.

But this time, senior opposite Matt Webber felt good enough about his contribution to at least get some sleep.

Webber, a second-team All-American last season who watched the latter half of Friday’s three-game triumph over visiting Hawaii from the bench, produced a match-high 15 kills in a 30-20, 30-22, 30-27 win over the Warriors in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation clash before 2,140 at the Bren Events Center.

“I couldn’t even sleep [Friday night],” said Webber, who hit .324 and added 11 digs and four block assists to help the No. 1-ranked Anteaters improve to 6-0, 2-0 in the MPSF.

“I was so mad at myself for the poor showing I had [Friday],” Webber said. “But it was just one of those nights. [The coaches] got on my case about it this morning when we watched video. I listened and tried to put that to work tonight and it really paid off.”

Webber had six kills in the second game, five in the first and four in the third as the Anteaters cruised past the No. 4-ranked Warriors.

It was UCI’s fifth consecutive sweep this season and they have now won 18 of 19 games.

But Coach John Speraw was particularly pleased about his team’s level of play Saturday.

“We got off to a really nice start in this match,” Speraw said. “I mean we played some very smooth volleyball. I just think we ball controlled so well tonight. We just passed the ball at such a high level, that it was very difficult for anybody to score points on us. Our defense was good. We were able to dig a lot of balls and transition well out of it and we just played a very solid volleyball match.

“Our hitting percentage was better, something we talked about improving upon from [Friday night],” Speraw said. “Webber started off a little cold again, but he’s learning how to deal with some tough situations that, as an opposite, you’re going to get thrown your way. Everybody in the gym knows [the set is] coming to you and you’ve got to learn how to deal with that with a shot selection. He actually learned how to do that in this match and that’s one of the reasons he played better. Maybe it’s one of the reasons why we were a little more smooth tonight.”

UCI senior Jayson Jablonsky, who chipped in 12 kills and three of the ‘Eaters’ six ace serves, said he knew Webber’s struggles would end soon.

“You can always count on Matt,” said Jablonsky, the NCAA Player of the Year last season. “Even if he has one match when he’s down, you know he’s coming back. It doesn’t matter.”

Hardly anything Hawaii (0-2) did mattered against UCI, though the Warriors showed some life in Game 3, when they forged an 11-7 lead.

But after a service error, two Jablonsky kills and another kill by Webber pulled UCI even, 11-11. UCI then pulled away to close out the match.

Senior middle blocker David Smith continued with his strong play for the winners. He hit a team-best .462 with seven kills and had three block assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wilson, who started in place of Cole Reinholm, took advantage of his opportunity by pounding 10 kills and collecting four block assists.

UCI had 23 block assists as a team, while Hawaii had only 13.

UCI hit .315 as a unit, while Hawaii hit a meager .170.

Speraw said he was surprised to win all six games against the Warriors.

“I knew Hawaii would come back and play real hard,” Speraw said. “They’re a proud team and a real successful team and they’re not used to getting beat in three like they were [Friday]. I thought we’d have a real battle on our hands.”

Instead, UCI never trailed in the opening game, pulling away from a 7-7 deadlock to take a 17-10 advantage, then cruising from there.

“We remember last year, when we swept them the first night [in Hawaii] and they came back and swept us the next night,” Webber said. “We wanted to bear down and play well.”

Senior setter Brian Thornton once again triggered an efficient attack, collecting a match-high 37 assists.

Webber, Smith and reserve Jon Steller, who saw limited action after sparking Friday’s win off the bench, each added aces to the Anteaters’ arsenal.

Junior middle blocker Aaron Herrell led the strong blocking effort with eight block assists.

UCI returns to action Wednesday with an MPSF match at Cal State Northridge, before playing host to UC Santa Barbara Saturday at 7 p.m.