LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's volleyball team is in Phoenix this weekend for a pair of matches - the first against Erskine, the second against ninth-ranked Grand Canyon.

Saturday's match will be the first-ever between the Tritons and Fleet. Hailing from Due West, S.C., and out of the Conference Carolinas, Erskine is 2-3 on the season and was swept by Grand Canyon Friday night.

The Antelopes are off to their best-ever start at 5-0. GCU had a big win over 14th-ranked Ohio State back on Jan. 14.

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THE ESSENTIALS
--- Match 9: Non-Conference ---
• UC San Diego (3-5) vs. Erskine (2-3)
• Saturday / January 28 / 3 p.m. Pacific
• Anteleope Gymnasium / Phoenix (map)
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram
• Series: Have never met
• Last Meeting: N/A

--- Match 10: Non-Conference ---
• UC San Diego (3-5) at No. 9 Grand Canyon (5-0)
• Sunday / January 29 / 1 p.m. Pacific
• GCU Arena / Phoenix (map)
• Watch on ESPN+
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram
• Series: GCU leads 6-4
• Last Meeting: 1/21/22 (GCU wins 3-1 in La Jolla, Calif.)
• Last UC San Diego Win: 1/26/19 (3-0 in La Jolla Calif.)

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ABOUT THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
• Overall: 3-5
• Big West: 0-0
• Home: 2-0
• Away: 0-3
• Neutral: 1-2
• Streak: 1 loss
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 0-5
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked
• Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 6

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ABOUT THE ERSKINE FLEET
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
• Overall: 2-3
• Conference Carolinas (CC): 0-0
• Home: 2-1
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: 1 loss
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 0-1
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked
• CC Preseason Poll: 6th of 8

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ABOUT THE GRAND CANYON LOPES
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
• Overall: 5-0
• Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF): 0-0
• Home: 3-0
• Away: 1-0
• Neutral: 1-0
• Streak: 5 wins
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 1-0
• AVCA national ranking: 9th
• MPSF Preseason Poll: tie-4th of 7 (USC)

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2023 BIG WEST STANDINGS (through 1/26)

Team	Big West	Overall
UC Irvine	0-0	7-0
Hawai'i	0-0	6-0
Long Beach State	0-0	5-0
CSUN	0-0	4-4
UC San Diego	0-0	3-5
UC Santa Barbara	0-0	1-6

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UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Starters Returning (1)
• Ryan Ka (Sr. OH)

Starters Lost (5)
• Shane Benetz (MB)
• Logan Clark (MB)
• Blake Crisp (S)
• Wyatt Harrison (OH)
• Kyle McCauley (OH)

Primary Liberos Returning (0)

Primary Liberos Lost (1)
• Matt Palma

Others Returning (12)
• Ben Blakely (So. OPP/OH)
• Andrew Boyle (Jr. S)
• Gabriel Dyer (So. S/OPP)
• Jim Garrison (R-Fr. MB)
• Matthew Lim (So. OH)
• Berkeley Miesfeld (R-Sr. OPP)
• Brett Pursley (R-Fr. OH)
• Nick Rigo (Jr. MB)
• Josh Schellinger (R-Fr. OH)
• Peter Selcho (R-Fr. MB)
• Michael Urdahl (R-Sr. MB)
• Paya Vatanshenas (R-So. L)

Others Lost (2)
• Jason Lee (OH)
• Charlie Siragusa (OH/OPP)

Newcomers (8)
• Evan Boyle (Fr. L)
• Joshua Ewert (Fr. OH)
• Spiro Maranda (So. MB)
• Leo Pravednikov (Fr. OH)
• Michael Robertson (Fr. OPP)
• Sam Warren (So. OH)
• Zachary Weston (So. MB)
• Cameron Wurl (Fr. S)

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SCHELLINGER NAMED BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Josh Schellinger was tabbed the Big West Men's Volleyball Freshman of the Week on Monday, Jan. 23. A redshirt freshman outside hitter, Schellinger had a stellar week on the court, helping the Tritons go 2-1 by averaging 4.4 kills per set and hitting a blistering .508 with a team-high 40 kills and only seven errors in 65 attack attempts. Schellinger also added 12 digs, eight assists, and two service aces to his stat line. In a home sweep of Emmanuel, Schellinger led all players with 14 kills while attacking at .579 (14-3-19). The next night, he had a career-best 15 kills in another home sweep, this time against Menlo College. Against the Oaks, he hit an incredible .714 with zero errors in 21 attack attempts. In the team's third match of the week, Schellinger totaled another 11 kills to go along with four assists and two digs in a loss at second-ranked UCLA. Hailing from Bloomingdale, Ill., Schellinger is the second Big West Freshman of the Week from UC San Diego this season as libero Evan Boyle earned the honor on Jan. 9.

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SELCHO, SCHELLINGER EARN OFF THE BLOCK RECOGNITION
Peter Selcho was named Off the Block's Defensive Player of the Night Tuesday while Josh Schellinger was selected as the outlet's Offensive Player of the Night Wednesday. Schellinger put down a career-best 15 kills and hit an astounding .714 (15-0-21) while also adding a pair of service aces against Menlo College. Selcho was big at the net against Emmanuel, finishing with a career-high seven blocks. The Tritons won both matches in straight sets.

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THEIR FIRST TIME OUT
Eight Tritons have made their collegiate debuts so far this season: Evan Boyle, Jim Garrison, Michael Robertson, Brett Pursley, Josh Schellinger, Peter Selcho, Sam Warren, and Zachary Weston.

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EVAN BOYLE NAMED BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
On Jan. 9, Evan Boyle was selected as the Big West Freshman of the Week. Making his collegiate debut at UC Santa Barbara's Asics Invitational, Boyle averaged 1.9 digs per set over three matches as the Tritons' libero. In UC San Diego's season-opening win against Lincoln Memorial, Boyle contributed 10 digs while adding four assists. Facing UCLA, the second-ranked team in the nation, he collected four digs and against No. 10 USC he finished with another 10 digs. From La Crescenta, Calif., and Crescenta Valley High School, Boyle is majoring in business economics at UC San Diego.

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DYER SELECTED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AT UC SANTA BARBARA
Setter Gabriel Dyer was named to the Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team for his play over three matches in Santa Barbara. He totaled 110 assists, an average of 8.5 per set. Dyer kicked off the tourney with 41 helpers in a win against Lincoln Memorial. He finished with 19 against No. 2 UCLA and then established a new career high with 50 against No. 10 USC.

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AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(1/23/23)
1. Hawai'i
2. UCLA
3. Long Beach State
4. Penn State
5. Pepperdine
6. UC Irvine
7. Stanford
8. Ball State
9. Grand Canyon
10. USC
11. Loyola-Chicago
12. BYU
13. Ohio State
14. UC Santa Barbara
15. Lewis

Receiving votes: CSUN, Princeton

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ROCK THE VOTE
Here's a look at where UC San Diego has stood in this season's AVCA National Poll.
• Jan. 23: Not ranked
• Jan. 16: Not ranked
• Jan. 9: Not ranked
• Preseason: Receiving votes

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BIG RANKINGS FOR THE BIG WEST
Four of the six Big West Conference teams can be found in this week's AVCA Top 15 National Poll. In addition, CSUN is receiving votes.
1. Hawai'i
3. Long Beach State
6. UC Irvine
14. UC Santa Barbara

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2023 BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Hawai'i
2. Long Beach State
3. UC Irvine
4. UC Santa Barbara
5. CSUN
6. UC San Diego

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HEAD COACH BRAD ROSTRATTER
Brad Rostratter was named head coach of the UC San Diego men's volleyball program on October 7, 2022. He earned his first career win with the Tritons on Jan. 5, 2023, when the team defeated Lincoln Memorial in five sets at UC Santa Barbara's Asics Invitational. It was the team's season opener.

A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coach of the Year and two-time Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Coach of the Year, Rostratter came to La Jolla from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., where he served as the men's volleyball head coach since the program's inception in 2019. He led the Lions to a pair of GSAC regular season titles, a league tournament title, and two appearances at the NAIA National Tournament. Complete Rostratter Bio

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NCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LANDSCAPE
The NCAA combines Division I and Division II teams into a single national championship (National Collegiate Championship), while Division III squads have a stand-alone championship (NCAA Division III National Championship). There are 60 Division I and Division II teams combined, with 49 of those making up seven conferences. Another 11 institutions are independent. In 2023, the Northeast Conference (NEC) became the seventh conference to compete at the Division I/II level in men's volleyball.

The Big West (6)
CSUN (DI)
Hawai'i (DI)
Long Beach State (DI)
UC Irvine (DI)
UC San Diego (DI)
UC Santa Barbara (DI)

Conference Carolinas (8)
Barton (DII)
Belmont Abbey (DII)
Emmanuel (GA) (DII)
Erskine (DII)
King (TN) (DII)
Lees-McRae (DII)
Mount Olive (DII)
North Greenville (DII)

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (6)
Charleston (WV) (DII)
George Mason (DI)
Harvard (DI)
NJIT (DI)
Penn State (DI)
Princeton (DI)

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

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

Northeast Conference (8)
D'Youville (DII)
Daemen (DII)
Fairleigh Dickinson (DII)
Long Island University (DII)
Merrimack (DI)
Sacred Heart (DII)
Saint Francis (DII)
St. Francis Brooklyn (DII)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (6)
Benedict (DII)
Central State (DII)
Edward Waters (DII)
Fort Valley State (DII)
Kentucky State (DII)
Morehouse (DII)

Independent (11)
Alderson Broaddus (DII)
American International (DII)
Limestone (DII)
Lincoln Memorial (DII)
Maryville (DII)
Missouri S&T (DII)
Puerto Rico at Bayamon (DII)
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (DII)
Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (DII)
Queens (NC) (DII)
Tusculum (DII)

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TRITON BOX OFFICE
Single game tickets to UC San Diego volleyball home matches are now on-sale. For more information or to purchase, click here. Currently enrolled UC San Diego students are provided free admission by showing a valid campus ID at the arena entrance.

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UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball, and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+.

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GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visit UCSDTritons.com/MVBgameday from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to LionTree Arena for everything they need to know about each home game, including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.

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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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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are 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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GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.

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WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.

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OUR HOME HAS A NEW NAME
UC San Diego's volleyball home has been named LionTree Arena in recognition of a $5 million gift for scholar-athletes from LionTree, an independent investment and merchant bank with expertise in technology, media, and the digital economy. LionTree was founded by UC San Diego alumnus Aryeh B. Bourkoff, who also serves as the firm's CEO. LionTree's gift is the largest ever received by UC San Diego Athletics, establishing the LionTree Endowed Scholarship Fund to support scholar-athletes. The gift total contributed to the Campaign for UC San Diego, which concluded on June 30, 2022. Bourkoff also served as co-chair of the Campaign for UC San Diego Cabinet.

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UP NEXT
UC San Diego returns home for a pair of matches at LionTree Arena. On Feb. 3, Ottawa Arizona is in town while the Tritons entertain Westcliff on Feb. 14.

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America accolades, while 38 have received prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among NCAA Division I and II institutions.