Top-ranked BYU visits UCI

The surging UC Irvine men’s volleyball team, the defending national champion, will get another measuring stick tonight, when it plays host to top-ranked BYU at 7 at the Bren Events Center.

No. 6-ranked UCI (8-6, 5-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), is coming off victories last week over then-No. 5-ranked Pepperdine and No. 11 USC.

Coach John Speraw’s Anteaters are led by freshman outside hitter Cory Yoder, whose 145 kills trail only junior Taylor Wilson (153), who has been sidelined by a sore ankle. Wilson did not play the last two matches.

UCI’s lineup also includes senior Aaron Harrell, a four-year starter at middle blocker, and junior libero Brent Asuka who recently became the school’s career digs leader. Asuka’s 691 digs surpassed James Davis, who collected 645 from 1988 to 1991.

UCI junior opposite Jon Steller, the Co-Player of the Week in the MPSF last week, has 19 aces to lead the team.

BYU, which shares the MPSF lead with unbeaten Long Beach State, has a .328 team hitting percentage, tops in the conference.

The Cougars are paced by 6-4 senior outside hitter Ivan Perez (124 kills and a .409 hitting percentage) as well as 6-2 senior opposite Jonathan Charette (123 kills, hitting .263). Senior middle blocker Russell Holmes leads the team with 58 total blocks and is hitting .441 with 89 kills.

BYU leads the series, 29-9, but UC Irvine has won four of the last five meetings, including a five-game triumph in the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament last season.

— Barry Faulkner