A victory would mark the first time UCI has won more than one postseason match in any season.
The Anteaters were 1-6 in the postseason prior to Saturday's five-game comeback victory over visiting Hawaii in the MPSF quarterfinals.
A victory over the Cougars, who have won eight straight and 14 of their last 15, would not only be historic, it very well could punch the 'Eaters ticket to the Final Four, May 3-5 at Ohio State.
If UCI and Pepperdine win their semifinal matches, both would almost certainly represent the MPSF in the four-team Final Four.
The MPSF Tournament champion receives an automatic berth, while the MPSF traditionally receives the lone at-large berth to the Final Four.
Should UCI and UCSB prevail in the semifinals, UCI would need to beat UCSB to advance, since Pepperdine would likely claim the at-large berth.
If Pepperdine extends its winning streak to 24 with wins Thursday and Saturday, UCI and BYU are the top candidates for the at-large berth. Tonight's UCI-BYU winner will have won two of three matches between the two teams this season.
UCI split the two teams' MPSF regular-season meetings Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 in Provo. The Cougars, ranked No. 1 at the time, swept Coach John Speraw's then-No. 2-ranked squad, 30-21, 30-22, 30-27, Feb. 2. UCI came back to earn a 23-30, 30-23, 33-31, 29-31, 30-27 triumph Feb. 3.
Speraw said there is no sense trying to downplay the importance of tonight's semifinal with his players.
"You can't tell the players that [the season] is not riding on this match, because they're definitely aware that it is," Speraw said. "If the guys know that should they lose, they're done and should they win, they have a chance to go to the Final Four, you can't sell it any other way."
