Anteaters earn No. 2 spot

The defending national champion UC Irvine men’s volleyball team is ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches’ Assn. preseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters received 218 points and three first-place votes, topped only by USC, which garnered 237 points and 13 first-place votes.

Stanford was third, Pepperdine fourth and Penn State fifth.

UCI defeated USC, 26-30, 30-23, 26-30, 30-17, 15-12, in the NCAA championship match last season.

The Anteaters, who were 27-5 a year ago, return All-Americans Carson Clark, a sophomore opposite, Kevin Wynne, a junior middle blocker, and junior outside hitter Jordan DuFault this season.

UCI won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular-season title last season.

Coach John Speraw’s team will play host to Winnipeg in an exhibition match Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.

UCI opens against Cal Baptist Tuesday 7 p.m. at Crawford Court.

UCI opens MPSF action by playing host to Pepperdine on Jan. 13 and USC on Jan. 15 in the Bren Center.

— From staff reports