Don't call UCI seniors nobodies

"It's just for this reason and this accomplishment has been done by student-athletes and great young men."

THE SPITTLE IMAGE

Paul Spittle, the team captain on UCI's 2006 NCAA semifinalist, who was the only starter lost to graduation, also had a presence at the 2007 Final Four.

Spittle, whose younger brothers Nick and Anthony are on the team, was in attendance at Saturday's championship match.

His image was also featured in the official event program, in an advertisement for a shoe company.

FLEDGLING FAN BASE

NCAA officials were reportedly pleased with the 4,756 attendance for the championship match, though it was just more than one-third of the 13,200-seat capacity of St. John Arena.

According to attendance figures from all but three of 38 championship finals in the event program [an average of the 35 was added to give a 38-year total], 220,640 have attended the NCAA men's volleyball title match over the years.

To put that in perspective, 211,151 was the combined attendance of the final two Ohio State home football games last season.

UC Irvine is the host of the 2008 NCAA Championship.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.