LA JOLLA, Calif.-Following five matches on the road to start the season, the UC San Diego men's volleyball team opens its home slate this week, hosting back-to-back,non-conference matches against Emmanuel on Tuesday, January 17 (6 p.m.) and Menlo on Wednesday, January 18 (7 p.m.).
UC San Diego comes into the matcheswith a 1-4 record. This past week, the Tritons fell at No. Loyola-Chicago and No. 15 Lewis.
Four of the Tritons' five matches have been against nationally-ranked teams.
Emmanuel is an NCAA Division II program located in Franklin Springs, Georgia, andplaying in the Conference Carolinas. Other schools in the league areBarton, Belmont Abbey, Erskine, King, Lees Mc-Rae, Mount Olive, and North Greenville.
Tuesday's match will be the first-ever meeting between the Tritons and Lions.
Menlo, located in Atherton, California, is an NAIA program that competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) along with Arizona Christian, Hope International, Ottawa (Arizona), The Master's, and Vanguard.
The Tritons and Oaks have met five times in the past with UC San Diego winning all of those matches.
THE ESSENTIALS
---Match 6:Non-Conference---
• UC San Diego (1-4) vs. Emmanuel(1-2)
• Tuesday/ January 17/ 6pmPacific
• LionTreeArena/ La Jolla, Calif.(map)
• Live on ESPN+ ($)
•Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram
• Series: Have never met
• Last Meeting: N/A
---Match 7:Non-Conference---
• UC San Diego (1-4) vs. Menlo(0-0)
• Wednesday/ January 18/ 7pmPacific
• LionTreeArena/ La Jolla, Calif.(map)
• Live on ESPN+ ($)
•Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram
• Series: UC San Diego leads 5-0
• Last Meeting: February 15, 1991 (UC San Diego wins 3-1 in La Jolla)
ABOUT THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster||Statistics
• Overall: 1-4
• Big West: 0-0
• Home: 0-0
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 1-2
• Streak: 4losses
• Againstnationally-ranked teams: 0-4
• AVCAnational ranking: Not ranked
• Big West Preseason Poll: 6thof 6
ABOUT THE EMMANUEL LIONS
Roster|Schedule & Results| Statistics
• Level: NCAA Division II
• Location: Franklin Springs, Ga.
• Overall: 1-2
• Conference Carolinas (CC): 0-0
• Home: 1-0
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: 2 losses
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 0-2
• AVCAnational ranking: Not ranked
• CCPreseason Poll: 5th of 8
ABOUT THE MENLO OAKS
Roster|Schedule & Results|Statistics
• Level: NAIA
• Location: Atherton, Calif.
• Overall: 0-0
• Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC): 0-0
• Home: 0-0
• Away: 0-0
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: N/A
• Againstnationally-ranked teams: 0-0
• AVCAnational ranking: Not ranked
• GSACPreseason Poll: 3rd of 6
2023BIG WEST STANDINGS (through 1/16)
| Team | Big West | Overall |
| UC Irvine | 0-0 | 3-0 |
| Hawai'i | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| Long Beach State | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| CSUN | 0-0 | 2-2 |
| UC San Diego | 0-0 | 1-4 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 0-0 | 1-4 |
UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Starters Returning (1)
• Ryan Ka(Sr. OH)
Starters Lost (5)
• Shane Benetz(MB)
• Logan Clark (MB)
• Blake Crisp (S)
• Wyatt Harrison (OH)
• Kyle McCauley (OH)
Primary LiberosReturning (0)
Primary LiberosLost(1)
• Matt Palma
Others Returning (12)
• Ben Blakely (So. OPP/OH)
• Andrew Boyle (Jr. S)
• Gabriel Dyer (So. S/OPP)
• Jim Garrison (R-Fr. MB)
• Matthew Lim (So. OH)
• Berkeley Miesfeld (R-Sr. OPP)
• Brett Pursley (R-Fr. OH)
• Nick Rigo (Jr. MB)
• Josh Schellinger (R-Fr.OH)
• Peter Selcho (R-Fr. MB)
• Michael Urdahl (R-Sr. MB)
• Paya Vatanshenas (R-So. L)
Others Lost (2)
• Jason Lee (OH)
• Charlie Siragusa (OH/OPP)
Newcomers (8)
• Evan Boyle (Fr. L)
• Joshua Ewert (Fr. OH)
• Spiro Maranda (So. MB)
• Leo Pravednikov (Fr. OH)
• Michael Robertson (Fr. OPP)
• Sam Warren (So. OH)
• Zachary Weston (So. MB)
• Cameron Wurl (Fr. S)
AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(1/16/23)
1. Hawai'i
2. UCLA
3. Long Beach State
4. Penn State
5. Pepperdine
6. Ball State
7. UC Irvine
8. Stanford
9. Grand Canyon
10. USC
11.Loyola-Chicago
12. UC Santa Barbara
13. BYU
14. Ohio State
15. Lewis
Receiving votes: Princeton, Lincoln Memorial
ROCK THE VOTE
Here's a look at where UC San Diegohas stood in this season's AVCANational Poll.
• Jan. 16: Not ranked
• Jan. 9: Not ranked
• Preseason: Receiving votes
BIG RANKINGS FOR THE BIG WEST
Four of the sixBig West Conference teams can be found in this week'sAVCATop 15 National Poll.
1. Hawai'i
3. Long Beach State
7. UC Irvine
12. UC Santa Barbara
2023BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Hawai'i
2. Long Beach State
3. UC Irvine
4. UC Santa Barbara
5. CSUN
6. UC San Diego
THEIR FIRST TIME OUT
SevenTritons have madetheir collegiate debuts so far this season:Evan Boyle,Jim Garrison,Michael Robertson,Brett Pursley,Josh Schellinger,Peter Selcho, andSam Warren.
EVAN BOYLE NAMED BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
On Jan. 9, Evan Boyle was selected as the Big West Freshman of the Week.Making his collegiate debut at UC Santa Barbara's Asics Invitational, Boyle averaged 1.9 digs per set over three matches as the Tritons' libero. In UC San Diego's season-opening win against Lincoln Memorial, Boyle contributed 10 digs while adding four assists. Facing UCLA, the second-ranked team in the nation, he collected four digs and against No. 10 USC he finished with another 10 digs. From La Crescenta, Calif., and Crescenta Valley High School, Boyle is majoring in businesseconomics at UC San Diego.
DYER SELECTED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AT UC SANTA BARBARA
Setter Gabriel Dyer was named to the AsicsInvitational All-Tournament Team for his play over three matches in Santa Barbara. He totaled 110 assists, an average of 8.5 per set. Dyer kicked off the tourney with 41 helpers in a win against Lincoln Memorial. He finished with 19 against No. 2 UCLA and then established a new career high with 50 against No. 10 USC.
HEAD COACH BRAD ROSTRATTER
Brad Rostratter was named head coach of the UC San Diego men's volleyball program on October 7, 2022. He earned his first career win with the Tritons on Jan. 5, 2023, when the team defeated Lincoln Memorial in five sets at UC Santa Barbara's Asics Invitational. It was the team's season opener.
A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)Coach of the Year and two-time Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC)Coach of the Year, Rostrattercame to La Jolla from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., where he served as the men's volleyball head coach since the program's inception in 2019. He led the Lions to a pair of GSACregular seasontitles, a league tournament title, and two appearances at the NAIA National Tournament. Complete Rostratter Bio
NCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LANDSCAPE
The NCAA combines Division I and Division II teams into a single national championship (National Collegiate Championship), while Division III squads have a stand-alone championship (NCAA Division III National Championship). There are 60Division I and Division II teams combined, with 49of those making up sevenconferences. Another 11institutions are independent. In 2023, the Northeast Conference (NEC) became the seventh conferenceto compete at the Division I/II level in men's volleyball.
The Big West(6)
CSUN(DI)
Hawai'i (DI)
Long Beach State (DI)
UC Irvine (DI)
UC San Diego (DI)
UC Santa Barbara (DI)
Conference Carolinas (8)
Barton (DII)
Belmont Abbey (DII)
Emmanuel (GA) (DII)
Erskine(DII)
King (TN)(DII)
Lees-McRae(DII)
Mount Olive(DII)
North Greenville(DII)
Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (6)
Charleston (WV) (DII)
George Mason (DI)
Harvard (DI)
NJIT (DI)
Penn State (DI)
Princeton (DI)
Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Ball State (DI)
Lewis (DII)
Lindenwood (DII)
Loyola Chicago (DI)
McKendree (DII)
Ohio State (DI)
Purdue Fort Wayne (DI)
Quincy (DII)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (7)
BYU (DI)
Concordia Irvine(DII)
Grand Canyon (DI)
Pepperdine (DI)
Stanford (DI)
UCLA (DI)
USC (DI)
Northeast Conference (8)
D'Youville(DII)
Daemen(DII)
Fairleigh Dickinson(DII)
Long Island University(DII)
Merrimack(DI)
Sacred Heart (DII)
Saint Francis (DII)
St. Francis Brooklyn (DII)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (6)
Benedict (DII)
Central State (DII)
Edward Waters (DII)
Fort Valley State (DII)
Kentucky State (DII)
Morehouse (DII)
Independent (11)
Alderson Broaddus (DII)
American International (DII)
Limestone (DII)
Lincoln Memorial (DII)
Maryville (DII)
Missouri S&T (DII)
Puerto Rico at Bayamon (DII)
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (DII)
Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (DII)
Queens (NC) (DII)
Tusculum (DII)
TRITON BOX OFFICE
Single game tickets to UC San Diego volleyball home matchesare now on-sale. For more information or to purchase,click here. Currently enrolled UC San Diego students are provided free admission by showing a valid campus ID at the arena entrance.
UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball, and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+.
GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visitUCSDTritons.com/MVBgamedayfrom their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to LionTree Arena for everything they need to know about each home game, including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.
BE SOCIAL!
UC San Diego Athletics on Facebook(UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Instagram(UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Athletics on Twitter(@UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Instagram(UCSDmvb)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Twitter(@UCSDmvb)
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out theJunior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritonshere.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
OUR HOME HAS A NEW NAME
UC San Diego's volleyball home has been namedLionTree Arenain recognition of a $5 million gift for scholar-athletes from LionTree, an independent investment and merchant bank with expertise in technology, media, and the digital economy. LionTree was founded by UC San Diego alumnus Aryeh B. Bourkoff, who also serves as the firm's CEO. LionTree's gift is the largest ever received by UC San Diego Athletics, establishing the LionTree Endowed Scholarship Fund to support scholar-athletes. The gift total contributed to theCampaign for UC San Diego, which concluded on June 30, 2022. Bourkoff also served as co-chair of the Campaign for UC San Diego Cabinet.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego heads back out on the road for its next three matches. On Jan. 21, the Tritons take on No. 2 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. They then travel to Grand Canyon in Phoenix to ace off against Erskineon Jan. 28 and GCU on Jan. 29. They don't play at LionTree again until Feb. 3 against Ottawafrom Arizona.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big Westin NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America accolades, while 38 have received prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among NCAA Division I and II institutions.
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