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A national powerhouse
By Larry UrishPublished: March 01, 2009
If you think basketball players are the world’s quickest, most agile 6-foot-6-inch athletes, you’ve never been to a top-notch volleyball match. The skill level, conditioning and toughness – both physical and mental – required to pound 80 mph spikes and run down errant shots takes years, and buckets of sweat, to achieve.
Some of the best volleyball teams in the country compete at the NCAA Division 1 level. Near the top of the heap, year after year, is the UCI Men’s Volleyball Team. Coach John Speraw – who served as an assistant coach on the Gold Medal-winning U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team in Beijing – has transformed the Anteaters from an average squad into a national powerhouse. Winner of the 2007 NCAA championship, UCI Volleyball has arguably become one of the most successful programs in local collegiate sports history.
At press time, the No. 2-ranked UCI squad has a 14-3 record and has defeated UCLA (twice), Long Beach State and BYU, among other highly ranked teams.
This month’s opponents: Loyola University Chicago (Crawford Court) on Wednesday, March 4, and the University of Hawaii (Bren Events Center) on Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27.
Check out these matches, plus two more in April. If you’re not a volleyball fan, you will be.
MORE LOCAL SPORTS EVENTS
Here’s a must-see for golf fans: the Toshiba Classic, one of the most successful tournaments in PGA Championship Tour history, March 2-8 at the Newport Beach Country Club.
O.C.’s Ice Gods, the Anaheim Ducks, hit Honda Center’s rink eight times this month as they try to move up in the NHL Western Division standings and battle for a playoff spot.
Who’s the best in the West? Find out, as the UCI Men’s Basketball Team takes on conference foes at the annual Big West Tournament, at the Anaheim Convention Center March 11-14.
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Some of the best volleyball teams in the country compete at the NCAA Division 1 level. Near the top of the heap, year after year, is the UCI Men’s Volleyball Team. Coach John Speraw – who served as an assistant coach on the Gold Medal-winning U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team in Beijing – has transformed the Anteaters from an average squad into a national powerhouse. Winner of the 2007 NCAA championship, UCI Volleyball has arguably become one of the most successful programs in local collegiate sports history. At press time, the No. 2-ranked UCI squad has a 14-3 record and has defeated UCLA (twice), Long Beach State and BYU, among other highly ranked teams. This month’s opponents: Loyola University Chicago (Crawford Court) on Wednesday, March 4, and the University of Hawaii (Bren Events Center) on Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27. Check out these matches, plus two more in April. If you’re not a volleyball fan, you will be. MORE LOCAL SPORTS EVENTS Here’s a must-see for golf fans: the Toshiba Classic, one of the most successful tournaments in PGA Championship Tour history, March 2-8 at the Newport Beach Country Club. O.C.’s Ice Gods, the Anaheim Ducks, hit Honda Center’s rink eight times this month as they try to move up in the NHL Western Division standings and battle for a playoff spot. Who’s the best in the West? Find out, as the UCI Men’s Basketball Team takes on conference foes at the annual Big West Tournament, at the Anaheim Convention Center March 11-14. |
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