THE SCHEDULE
Match 6 - Lindenwood Invitational
Thursday • Jan. 23 • 5 p.m.
RV UC San Diego (3-2) at Lindenwood (2-2)
Hyland Arena • St. Charles, Mo.
Series Record: UC San Diego leads 1-0
Watch Live • Live Stats

Match 7 - Lindenwood Invitational
Friday • Jan. 24 • 2 p.m.
RV UC San Diego (3-2) vs. Quincy (1-4)
Hyland Arena • St. Charles, Mo.
Series Record: UC San Diego leads 2-1
Watch Live • Live Stats

Match 8 - Lindenwood Invitational
Saturday • Jan. 25 • 11 a.m.
RV UC San Diego (3-2) vs. RV McKendree (3-2)
Hyland Arena • St. Charles, Mo.
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Watch Live • Live Stats

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ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 3-2
• Big West: 0-0
• Home: 3-1
• Away: 0-1
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: Lost 1
• AVCA national ranking: Receiving votes
• Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 6

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UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Starters Returning (4)
• Logan Clark (So., MB)
• Wyatt Harrison (Jr., OH)
• Collin Shannon (Jr., OPP)
• Connor Walbrecht (Sr., S)

Primary Liberos Returning (1)
• Ryan Lew (Sr.)

Starters Lost (2)
• Xander Jimenez (OH)
• Vlad Pesic (MB)

Others Returning (10)
• Gabe Avillion (R-So., MB)
• Shane Benetz (So., MB)
• Blake Crisp (So., S)
• Bryce Curtis (Jr., OH)
• Macune Gilruth (R-So., OPP)
• Ryan Ka (R-Fr., OH)
• Berkeley Miesfeld (So., OPP)
• Matt Palma (So., L)
• Marco Posada (R-Fr., OH/OPP)
• Michael Urdahl (R-Fr., MB)

Others Lost (4)
• Alex Biz (OH)
• Connor Leech (OH)
• Leor Schiffer (OH)
• Sean Staskus (OH)

Newcomers (6)
• Will Campbell (Fr., S)
• Kyle McCauley (Jr., OH)
• Adam Sevier (Fr., MB)
• Charlie Siragusa (So., OH)
• Ryan Swartz (Fr., OH)
• Camden Winter (Fr., MB)

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ABOUT LINDENWOOD
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 2-2
• MIVA: 0-0
• Home: 2-2
• Away: 0-0
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: Lost 1
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked
• MIVA Preseason Poll: 7th of 8 

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ABOUT QUINCY
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 1-4
• MIVA: 0-0
• Home: 1-4
• Away: 0-0
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: Lost 1
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked
• MIVA Preseason Poll: 8th of 8

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ABOUT MCKENDREE
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
• Overall: 3-2
• MIVA: 0-0
• Home: 2-0
• Away: 0-1
• Neutral: 1-1
• Streak: Won 2
• AVCA national ranking: Receiving votes
• MIVA Preseason Poll: 4th of 8

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ROCK THE VOTE
For the second consecutive week, UC San Diego is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Poll. The highest the Tritons have ever been ranked is eighth back in March of 2009. They have been ranked in the top 15 nationally 73 times and in the top 10 nine times.

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AN UPSET WAS BRUIN
On Jan. 17 at RIMAC Arena, UC San Diego rolled to a 3-0 victory over third-ranked UCLA. It was the first time the Tritons had defeated the Bruins since March 30, 2012. UCLA was ranked No. 3 in the nation at that time as well. The last time the Tritons swept the Bruins was on April 1, 2011 in Westwood.

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MCCAULEY EARNS BIG TIME HONORS
Junior outside hitter Kyle McCauley was recently named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Week (1/14) as well as the Big West Conference Player of the Week (1/13). In his first season with the Tritons after transferring from Orange Coast College, McCauley averaged 4.6 kills and 5.3 points while hitting .413 over two matches last week at RIMAC Arena. In his debut, he had match highs with 20 kills and 24 points to help the Tritons to a thrilling five set win over No. 11 Loyola. He also added six digs, two aces, and two blocks and hit .361 vs. the Ramblers. Two nights later against No. 6 Lewis, McCauley posted match highs with 17 kills and 18 points. He also had a team best six digs plus two blocks and hit .481 against the Flyers. McCauley is the fifth AVCA National Player of the Week to come out of UC San Diego. The program's last was opposite hitter Tanner Syftestad in January of 2018. He is the first Triton to win Big West Player of the Week since opposite Collin Shannon picked up the honor in February of 2019.

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TWO OFF THE BLOCK NODS ALREADY
Two Tritons have earned Off the Block National Offensive Player of the Night accolades already this season. Setter Connor Walbrecht was the recipient on Jan. 9 after racking up 49 assists, seven digs, four blocks, and three aces while helping UC San Diego to a .342 hitting percentage in its season opening win against Loyola. Outside hitter Wyatt Harrison picked up the title on Jan. 17 after leading the Tritons to a 3-0 upset of No. 3 UCLA with 11 kills, two aces, and a .357 hitting percentage.

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BIG RANKINGS FOR THE BIG WEST
Four of six Big West Conference teams can be found in this week's AVCA top 15 national poll with UC San Diego receiving votes for the second straight week.
1. Hawai'i
3. UC Santa Barbara
4. Long Beach State
5. UC Irvine
RV: UC San Diego

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BIG WEST STANDINGS
(through 1/21)
Hawai'i 0-0, 5-0
UC Santa Barbara, 0-0, 5-0
Long Beach State, 0-0, 4-0
UC Irvine, 0-0, 3-1
UC San Diego, 0-0, 3-2
CSUN, 0-0, 1-4

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CLARK, CRISP NAMED TO BIG WEST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Logan Clark and Blake Crisp were selected to the 2019 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team. Clark, a middle blocker, averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 kills per set over 21 matches (13 starts). He was fourth on the team with 38 total blocks. Crisp saw time in 25 matches with 10 starts. The setter totaled 365 assists, good for a 6.0 average. UC San Diego has produced three Big West All-Freshman Team performers as outside hitter Wyatt Harrison was recognized in 2018.

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FIVE TRITONS EARN BIG WEST ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Gabe Avillion, Bryce Curtis, Xander Jimenez, Ryan Lew, and Collin Shannon were all named to the 2019 Big West Academic All-Conference Team. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes have to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, complete one full year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically), and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests. Jimenez and Lew were Big West Academic All-Conference honorees in 2018 as well.

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SHANNON NAMED 2019 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Collin Shannon was named a Google Cloud Academic All-District selection in 2019, the first ever Triton from the men's volleyball team to earn the accolade. To be considered, a student-athlete must have strong athletic credentials as a starter or important reserve, hold at least a 3.30 GPA, and be of sophomore standing or above.

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RING GETS 100th VICTORY
With a 3-0 sweep over Lindenwood at RIMAC Arena on March 12, 2019, UC San Diego head coach Kevin Ring notched his 100th win with the Tritons. 

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AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(1/20)
1. Hawai'i
2. BYU
3. UC Santa Barbara
4. Long Beach State
5. UC Irvine
6. UCLA
7. Lewis
8. Stanford
9. Pepperdine
10. Penn State
11. Purdue Fort Wayne
12. George Mason
13. Princeton
14. Concordia Irvine
15. Loyola
RV: UC San Diego, Ohio State, McKendree, Ball State, Grand Canyon, Harvard

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2020 BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Hawai'i (6 first place votes), 36 points
2. UC Santa Barbara, 28
3. Long Beach State, 23
4. UC Irvine, 19
5. CSUN, 13
6. UC San Diego, 7

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FINAL 2019 BIG WEST STANDINGS
1. Long Beach State, 10-0
2. Hawai'i, 8-2
3. UC Irvine, 5-5
4. UC Santa Barbara, 4-6
5. CSUN, 3-7
6. UC San Diego, 0-10 

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HEAD COACH KEVIN RING
Now in his 15th season heading up the UC San Diego Men's Volleyball program in 2020, Kevin Ring currently owns a 103-297 overall record at the school. With a 3-0 sweep over Lindenwood at RIMAC Arena on March 12, 2019, Ring notched his 100th win with the Tritons. Ring got his start as the Tritons' team manager from 1989-91 before playing for the team for three seasons. He was an assistant coach for nine years and was named head coach in June of 2005. He has also been extensively involved with USA Volleyball. Ring earned two degrees from UC San Diego, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 1996, followed by a master's in chemistry in 1998.

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BIG (WEST) NEWS FOR UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS
On Nov. 27, 2017, UC San Diego was officially invited to become a member of the NCAA Division I Big West Conference. The Tritons begin a four-year reclassification period starting in July of 2020. During the transition, UC San Diego will be eligible for National Collegiate Championships in men's volleyball, men's and women's water polo, and men's and women's fencing. For the 2024-25 academic year, all sports will be eligible to compete in Big West and NCAA Division I Championships. Men's volleyball became an associate member of the Big West for the 2018 season and women's water polo  joins the conference in the spring of 2020. Read the full press release here.

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NCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LANDSCAPE
The NCAA combines Division I and Division II teams into a single national championship, while Division III squads have a stand-alone championship. There are 47 Division I and Division II teams combined, with 38 of those making up five conferences. Another nine institutions are independent.
Big West (6)
CSUN
Hawai'i
Long Beach State
UC Irvine
UC San Diego (DII)
UC Santa Barbara

Conference Carolinas (9)
Barton (DII)
Belmont Abbey (DII)
Emmanuel (Ga.) (DII)
Erskine (DII)
King (Tenn.) (DII)
Lees-McRae (DII)
Limestone (DII)
Mount Olive (DII)
North Greenville (DII)

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Charleston (WVa.) (DII)
George Mason
Harvard
NJIT
Penn State
Princeton
Sacred Heart
Saint Francis (Pa.)

Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Ball State
Lewis (DII)
Lindenwood (DII)
Loyola
McKendree (DII)
Ohio State
Purdue Fort Wayne
Quincy (DII)

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (7)
BYU
Concordia (Calif.) (DII)
Grand Canyon
Pepperdine
Stanford
UCLA
USC

Independent (9)
Alderson Broaddus (DII)
Coker (DII)
Daemen (DII)
Lincoln Memorial (DII)
Puerto Rico at Bayamon (DII)
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (DII)
Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (DII)
Queens (NC) (DII)
Urbana (DII)

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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are in eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

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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)

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UP NEXT
Following this week's trip to the Lindenwood Invitational in Missouri, UC San Diego returns to La Jolla to host Princeton on Jan. 28 (6 p.m.) and Concordia Irvine on Jan. 31 (7 p.m.).

About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles, and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country. The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in the summer of 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's pre-eminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent. A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships. In competition, almost 1,400 UC San Diego scholar-athletes have earned All-America honors.

Follow the Tritons
For complete coverage and information regarding UC San Diego Athletics, follow the Tritons online at UCSDTritons.com and through social media on Twitter (@UCSDTritons), Instagram (@UCSDTritons) and Facebook (UCSDTritons). To stay tuned in to UC San Diego Men's Volleyball, follow the team's Instagram (@UCSDmvb) or visit the Tritons on Twitter (@UCSDmvb).