Top-seeded UCI faces Buckeyes in semifinals

The Ohio State University has been good to the UC Irvine men’s volleyball program. The Anteaters, after all, celebrated their biggest victories, winning the 2007 NCAA championship match, on the Buckeyes’ campus.

Sentimentality, however, doesn’t figure to play much of a role tonight, when the top-seeded Anteaters (25-5) meet the No 4-seeded Buckeyes (17-10) in the semifinals of the four-team NCAA Championship at BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse.

The match, which may be delayed, depending on the duration of the first semifinal between Penn State and USC, will be televised live on ESPNU.

It’s the third Final Four in four seasons for UCI, which lost to host Penn State in the 2006 semifinals.

UCI and Ohio State have not met this season, but UCI swept a pair of nonconference home matches from the Buckeyes in 2008.

UCI is hoping to bounce back from a surprising loss to USC in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament Thursday at the Bren Events Center. The loss forced UCI to claim the lone at-large bid into the Final Four.

The ’Eaters are led by senior setter Ryan Ammerman, a first-team All-American, as well as second-team All-Americans Carson Clark, Jordan DuFault and Kevin Wynne.

In addition, seniors Taylor Wilson, an outside hitter who has averaged 24 kills in two postseason matches, and libero Brent Asuka (second all-time on the NCAA list in career digs) provide experience. Both started on the 2007 national title team.

Tonight’s winners meet Saturday at 4 p.m. for the title.

— Barry Faulkner