Men’s Volleyball: ‘Eaters losing streak grows

The UC Irvine men’s volleyball team, which lost a fourth straight match on Saturday for the first time since 2005, is clearly taking on water.

But Anteaters Coach David Kniffin said following a 26-24, 28-26, 25-15 thumping at the hands of No. 3-ranked BYU in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Bren Events Center, there is definitely no cause for UCI supporters to abandon ship.

“The ‘Eaters are trying to find their groove right now,” Kniffin said after his No. 9-ranked squad fell to 2-6, 1-5 in the MPSF and was swept for the second time in 19 hours by the Cougars (6-2, 4-2). I sometimes feel like I’m coaching a bunch of young men who have not yet matured to manhood. But [playing winning volleyball] is there. I can see it in fits and spurts. “

UCI, which last had a losing streak this long in 2005 when it dropped seven in a row on its way to a 9-20 record, led in every set. It was up, 20-16, in the second set, in which it served for the set leading, 26-25.

The Anteaters, who won four national championships in a seven-year span through 2013, struggled in several areas on Saturday.

The hosts, now 1-3 at home, had 11 service errors to BYU’s five. UCI lost the blocking battle, 10.5-4 and was outhit (.400 to .284).

Senior outside hitter Kyle Russell led UCI with 13 kills, but hit .179. Junior outside hitter Tamir Hershko had 11 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Hershko was also targeted 33 times by BYU servers, who are exploiting the All-American’s inconsistent passing, Kniffin said.

“It doesn’t bother us that teams are serving Tamir,” Kniffin said. “But it bothers us that he goes through spurts when he doesn’t pass the ball well. Tamir is a good passer and he can pass at this level, because we saw him do it last year when teams targeted him.”

UCI senior middle blocker Jason Agopian had eight kills on 11 swings (.636) and posted a team-best four block assists.

UCI freshman setter Dante Chakravorti went the distance, recording 36 assists, while sophomore libero Dillon Hoffman had a team-best 10 digs.

BYU sophomore Ben Patch, a 6-foot-9 opposite, led the winners with 17 kills and hit .467, one day after blasting 16 kills with a .667 efficiency rating.

Jake Langlois, a 6-10 junior middle blocker, had 10 kills, hit .400 and added one solo block and five block assists for the Cougars.

Kniffin said his team can right itself in time to achieve its goals this season.

“This is a team that can absolutely compete for [an NCAA] title this year,” Kniffin said. “It’s pretty early. The hardest thing is making the [eight-team MPSF Tournament]. Once you do that, anything is possible. It has been a few years since we had to even consider [an MPSF Tournament berth] as a question.

UCI last failed to make the MPSF Tournament in 2005.

“I feel like we’re moving toward the end I want us to move toward. And I understand it’s frustrating that we’re not getting the results we want.”

UCI plays host to Cal Baptist on Wednesday and gets another home match on Friday against USC.