LOS ANGELES — Sometimes, all a team needs is a second chance. Thanks to this year's expanded 12-team field for the National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championships, UC Irvine is proving that opportunity can turn heartbreak into history.
Just two weeks ago, the Anteaters were swept by Long Beach State in the Big West tournament semifinals at Bren Events Center—a loss that would have ended their season under the old format. Instead, UC Irvine (21-8) has roared back with three straight wins at Pauley Pavilion, including a stunning upset of No. 1 seed UCLA in the regional final. Now, they're one victory away from a national title, facing Hawaii in Monday's final at 1 p.m.
"We haven't had to play Hawaii or Long Beach," UC Irvine coach David Kniffin joked about the Anteaters' unlikely run. "The biggest change for us since stepping into Pauley Pavilion is our commitment to play between the whistles."
UC Irvine was among the last at-large teams selected to the tournament, which expanded from just two teams last year. The third-place finisher in the Big West has now become a Cinderella story, rallying after being dominated on their home floor.
In Saturday's semifinal, Big West Freshman of the Year Andrej Jokanovic delivered 18 kills, leading four Anteaters in double figures in a 25-19, 23-25, 27-25, 25-19 win over No. 4 seed Ball State. UCI's balanced attack neutralized Cardinals senior outside hitter Patrick Rodgers, who posted a match-high 20 kills.
The Anteaters' journey has included five-set thrillers against EIVA champion Penn State and MPSF champion UCLA. Ball State, the MIVA champion, reached the Final Four after a five-set win over Pepperdine.
Now, UC Irvine faces its toughest test yet: Hawaii, a team that swept them in straight sets during the regular season. The Anteaters are 0-5 this year against the Big West's top two teams—Hawaii and Long Beach State.
"We are very aware that without tournament expansion, we wouldn't be in this conversation," Kniffin said. "Put good enough teams out there, and if we played this tournament 10 times, it's probably not three Big West teams in the Final Four. But with a bigger field, volleyball is a funny game—every whistle ends in a point. This is just a really cool moment."
The Big West is guaranteed to produce the national champion for the sixth time in eight years since adding men's volleyball in 2018. UC Irvine, which won four national titles in seven years, now has a chance to add another chapter to its storied legacy.