’Eaters to Play for the National Championship Tonight

This past Saturday, our UC Irvine men’s volleyball team defeated Ball State University in the NCAA semifinal at Pauley Pavilion (UCLA), earning a place in tonight’s National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship match against the University of Hawaiʻi.

It has been a remarkable postseason run. The ’Eaters have defeated Penn State, No. 1 seed UCLA, and Ball State — demonstrating at every turn the talent, determination, and Anteater spirit that make this team so special.

Congratulations to our student-athletes, who compete at the highest level while pursuing their degrees, and to head coach David Kniffin and his staff for the leadership, preparation, and inspiration they have brought to this championship journey.

Tonight’s championship match begins at 4 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. To recognize this exciting moment for our campus community, I encourage departments, where operationally feasible, to allow employees up to one hour of administrative leave to pause and cheer on the Anteaters.

Let’s bring home a national title.

Go ’Eaters!
Zot! Zot! Zot!

Chancellor Howard Gillman