UC Irvine proud of its NCAA tournament run despite loss in men's volleyball title game
UC Irvine put together a string of upsets, but the Anteaters couldn't knock off Hawaii in the men's volleyball NCAA tournament played Monday at Pauley Pavilion.
(Matt_Brown / Getty Images) UC Irvine men's volleyball coach David Kniffin has spent 14 seasons leading the Anteaters program. He watched this year's team surge at the right time, pulling off a string of upsets he hopes the players remember more than their loss to Hawaii in the NCAA Division I national title game Monday at Pauley Pavilion. “These guys have a lot to be proud of this season,” Kniffin said.
“I feel it is the most important thing in the world. ” The Anteaters returned to the men’s volleyball championship game on Monday for the first time since 2013, but the team came up short against Hawaii (30-5, 9-1 Big West). Read more: UC-Irvine to face Hawaii in NCAA men's volleyball championship The unranked Anteaters (21-9, 5-5) knocked off No.
1 UCLA in the quarterfinals, winning 4-3 (25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 16-14). UC Irvine then defeated No. 4 Ball State in the semifinals, winning 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 27-25, 25-19).
Hawaii, however, tripped UC Irvine, with the Anteaters falling 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 18-25, 20-25) in the championship match. The Anteaters had alumni cheering them on during the title tilt at Pauley Pavilion. That support was especially meaningful to Kniffin.