Greetings from Irvine, California, USA!
Photo taken on Friday, February 15, 2008.
Be it two-man outdoors on the soft sand or six-man indoors on the hardwood, my love for volleyball is apparent. In college sports, I’m 100% USC Trojan in football but, come volleyball season, I’m a UCI Anteater from toes to nose. I have mentioned previously that my undergraduate alma mater of UCI won the 2007 national title for men’s volleyball. This being college, the student athletes inevitably graduate and the coaches hope the team’s successors continue the work of their predecessors.
Last season the Anteaters had a near perfect record. In the midst of the present season, the ‘Eaters have been less fortunate. Currently the team is ranked #7 and have an uphill battle to move up to #4 or better in order to defend their title in the conference and national finals. As of last Thursday I had gone to three matches and UCI was triumphant at each. On Friday was another match – this one against the undefeated and top-ranked Cougars of Brigham Young University (BYU).
The matches are a best 3-of-5 series and the games are won at 30 points or more with a 2-point lead minimum. The Cougars took game 1 with a tight 30-28 victory. Game 2 was just as tight but more intense and the Eaters eked out a 32-34 win. But the Cougars bared their claws, humbling UCI with a 30-22 score to win game 3. Game 4 saw both teams amped again with the Eaters triumphing in another 28-30 win, tying the series at two games apiece.
To win game 5 and the match, the teams still need the 2-point lead but only 15 points for victory. But you would have thought that it was still a 30-point game upon seeing the final score of 28-26. The victors? The BYU Cougars remain undefeated. In fact by the powers of the scheduling gods, BYU and UCI had a rematch the very next night. I could not attend the second match but, based on the final scores, it did not top Friday’s excitement. The Cougars won again 3 games to 1 (28-30, 30-22, 30-24, 30-27).
I end with the photo of the week – a statue of the UCI mascot in the front courtyard of the Bren Events Center, home court for men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams. The inspiration for the mascot was the character Peter the Anteater from the comic strip “B.C.” by Johnny Hart. UCI Pete owes his battle cry to the strip too. It’s the sound made when the anteater’s tongue shot out and got an ant. “ZOT!”
Angelo
Photo taken on Friday, February 15, 2008.
Be it two-man outdoors on the soft sand or six-man indoors on the hardwood, my love for volleyball is apparent. In college sports, I’m 100% USC Trojan in football but, come volleyball season, I’m a UCI Anteater from toes to nose. I have mentioned previously that my undergraduate alma mater of UCI won the 2007 national title for men’s volleyball. This being college, the student athletes inevitably graduate and the coaches hope the team’s successors continue the work of their predecessors.
Last season the Anteaters had a near perfect record. In the midst of the present season, the ‘Eaters have been less fortunate. Currently the team is ranked #7 and have an uphill battle to move up to #4 or better in order to defend their title in the conference and national finals. As of last Thursday I had gone to three matches and UCI was triumphant at each. On Friday was another match – this one against the undefeated and top-ranked Cougars of Brigham Young University (BYU).
The matches are a best 3-of-5 series and the games are won at 30 points or more with a 2-point lead minimum. The Cougars took game 1 with a tight 30-28 victory. Game 2 was just as tight but more intense and the Eaters eked out a 32-34 win. But the Cougars bared their claws, humbling UCI with a 30-22 score to win game 3. Game 4 saw both teams amped again with the Eaters triumphing in another 28-30 win, tying the series at two games apiece.
To win game 5 and the match, the teams still need the 2-point lead but only 15 points for victory. But you would have thought that it was still a 30-point game upon seeing the final score of 28-26. The victors? The BYU Cougars remain undefeated. In fact by the powers of the scheduling gods, BYU and UCI had a rematch the very next night. I could not attend the second match but, based on the final scores, it did not top Friday’s excitement. The Cougars won again 3 games to 1 (28-30, 30-22, 30-24, 30-27).
I end with the photo of the week – a statue of the UCI mascot in the front courtyard of the Bren Events Center, home court for men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams. The inspiration for the mascot was the character Peter the Anteater from the comic strip “B.C.” by Johnny Hart. UCI Pete owes his battle cry to the strip too. It’s the sound made when the anteater’s tongue shot out and got an ant. “ZOT!”
Angelo
