UCI figures to be among NCAA elite

Two NCAA championships in the last three seasons and three trips to the Final Four in the last four, present overwhelming evidence that the UC Irvine men’s volleyball program is no less than a perennial national power.

But if a final straw was needed to break any doubter’s back, one might point to Anteaters Coach John Speraw officially sandbagging about the perceived strength of this year’s squad.

“I don’t think we’re the No. 2 team in America,’ Speraw said of UCI’s placement in both the national preseason poll, a similar ranking given the ’Eaters in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation preseason poll. “I think we can compete for that at the end of the year, but for people to vote us No. 2 is, I think, really stretching it at this point.”

The Anteaters return three All-Americans from last year’s 25-5 unit that won the MPSF regular-season title and rallied past USC in a five-game victory for the national title.

But there are significant questions marks, including replacing All-American setter Ryan Ammerman, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four last season, as well as four-year starting libero Brent Asuka and standout outside hitter Taylor Wilson.

“I think setter is the key,” Speraw said. “We have three All-Americans back, so people are thinking we are returning some good players, and we are. But we all know that serving and passing are huge parts of the game and we lost two of our three passers. And we all know our quarterback position is pretty crucial to our success and we lost our setter.

“Most programs go through some sort of an adjustment phase when they change the guy who runs the offense and that’s what we’re doing. I think it’s going to take us some time to figure it out.”

What Speraw, entering his eighth season at the helm, has figured out is that 6-foot-5 sophomore opposite Carson Clark will be the go-to hitter.

“Carson is playing well and he worked hard over the summer on strength and conditioning. He’s definitely a horse. I think he’s going to be a great player in the conference ... We’re going to set him a lot of balls.

Clark had 19 kills, two more than the next two most productive UCI hitters, in a four-game exhibition win over Winnipeg on Saturday. He also led the team with six digs and three aces.

Jordan DuFault, a 6-4 junior outside hitter, and Kevin Wynne, a 6-7 junior middle blocker, also earned All-American honors last season.

DuFault had 326 kills as a sophomore, which trailed only Clark (374) and Wilson (337). And he will provide a boost to the ’Eaters’ ball control as a primary passer, Speraw said.

Juniors Anthony Spittle and Jeff Schmitz, a transfer from Ball State, will vie for the starting setter spot, a battle Speraw said should extend through the early part of the season that begins tonight at home against nonconference foe Cal Baptist at 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.

“[Spittle] is a great leader who has played a lot for us in the past and he runs a nice offense,” Speraw said.

“Schmitz [who at 6-2 is an inch taller than Spittle] hits his serve a little bit harder and he probably scores more points for us at the net and with that serve. He’s an aggressive setter, and sometimes that aggressiveness gets in his way and he doesn’t always set good balls. If he can become a better setter of the offense, then he could become the guy.”

The guy at the other outside hitter spot is also currently plural, as Kevin Carroll, a 6-4 redshirt sophomore, and Connor Hughes, a 6-6 freshman and a Costa Mesa resident touted among the top recruits in the nation out of Mater Dei High, figure to provide Speraw with some potent options.

“[Hughes] has a big upside for the future and Carroll has a big-time arm and he’s a great defender at the net,” Speraw said. “So, we have some nice pieces.”

Speraw said senior Cole Reinholm and junior Cory Yoder could also contribute at outside hitter, though Yoder is also in the mix at libero.

Also competing at libero are junior Kenny Webster and senior Kevin Welch, a Corona del Mar High and Orange Coast College product who began his collegiate career playing football at Indiana.

Yoder started the exhibition, but Webster and Welch both played.

“Yoder is such a good volleyball player who gives us some size and experience,” Speraw said.

“Welch is a great defender who brings us great energy, but he needs to pass the ball a little better.”

Additional possibilities are redshirt freshmen Will Thomas and Will Montgomery, Speraw said.

Wynne, who led the team with 139 total blocks and posted a team-best .476 hitting percentage while collecting 199 kills as a sophomore, provides stability in the middle.

Bryan Simmons, a 6-8 senior, is slated to start at the other middle, after providing strong play in an injury-plagued junior campaign.

Austin D’Amour, a 6-5 sophomore who started as a freshman, is expected to redshirt, Speraw said, while 6-6 Arizona transfer Dan McDonnell is likely out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“I’m curious and I’m excited,” Speraw said. “I think this year is going to be really fun, because it’s going to present more challenges than seasons past.”