UCI aims for revenge tonight against 49ers

The UC Irvine men’s volleyball team will attempt to avenge a three-set loss to Long Beach State on Jan. 9, when the two teams meet in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match tonight at 7 at the 49ers’ Walter Pyramid.

The No. 5-ranked Anteaters (5-2, 2-1 in the MPSF) are coming off an impressive home sweep of UC San Diego Wednesday, in which they hit a season-best .517 as a team.

Coach John Speraw’s squad is paced by 6-foot-5 freshman opposite Carson Clark, who is averaging 4.56 kills per set and is hitting .432 for the season. Sophomore Jordan DuFault, a 6-4 outside hitter, is averaging 3.56 kills per set.

Long Beach State (3-2, 2-0) is ranked No. 7 and earned a five-set triumph over UCLA Wednesday.

Junior Tommy Pestolesi, the older brother of UCI women’s volleyball star Kari Pestolesi, had a career-high 25 kills against the Bruins. The 6-6 outside hitter trails only Dean Bittner in kills for the 49ers. Bittner, who had 27 kills in the Jan. 9 win over UCI at the UC Santa Barbara tournament, is averaging 6.2 kills per set.

Former UCI head coach Andy Read and former UCI assistant John Hawks are 49ers assistant coaches.

— Barry Faulkner