LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's volleyball will begin its third season of Division I competition on the road at the Bulldog Brawl, a two-day invitational hosted by Butler in Indianapolis, Ind.
The Tritons (0-0) will face Fresno State in a neutral matchup on Friday at 12 p.m. PT in their 2023 season opener. On Saturday, UC San Diego will take on Kent State at 7 a.m. PT and face the host, Butler at 1 p.m. PT. Saturday's match against Butler will be streamed for free on Butler's YouTube channel and live statistics will be available for all matches via UCSDTritons.com.
DETAILS
Match 1
(N) UC San Diego (0-0) vs Fresno State (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 25 | 12 p.m. PT
Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) | Indianapolis, Ind.
All-time series: First meeting
Live Stats
Match 2
(N) UC San Diego vs Kent State (0-0)
Saturday, Aug. 26 | 7 a.m. PT
Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) | Indianapolis, Ind.
All-time series: First meeting
Live Stats
Match 3
UC San Diego at Butler (0-0)
Saturday, Aug. 26 | 1 p.m. PT
Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) | Indianapolis, Ind.
All-time series: First meeting
Watch |
Live Stats
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
2022 Stats
2022 Overall: 14-18
2022 Big West: 7-13
2022 Home: 4-9
2022 Away: 5-9
2022 Neutral: 5-0
2022 vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: L1
| ABOUT FRESNO STATE |
ABOUT KENT STATE |
ABOUT BUTLER |
| Roster | Schedule | 2022 Stats |
Roster | Schedule | 2022 Stats |
Roster | Schedule | 2022 Stats |
| 2022 Overall: 7-23 |
2022 Overall: 13-16 |
2022 Overall: 16-15 |
| 2022 Mountain West: 1-17 |
2022 MAC: 4-14 |
2022 Big East: 10-8 |
| 2022 Home: 3-9 |
2022 Home: 5-8 |
2022 Home: 9-5 |
| 2022 Away: 2-10 |
2022 Away: 4-8 |
2022 Away: 4-8 |
| 2022 Neutral: 2-4 |
2022 Neutral: 4-0 |
2022 Neutral: 3-2 |
| 2022 vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0 |
2022 vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0 |
2022 vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-3 |
| Streak: L4 |
Streak: L6 |
Streak: L1 |
McINNES CHASING RECORDS
Junior outside hitter
Ava McInnes had a standout season in 2022, leading The Big West in both kills (3.81 k/s) and points (4.35 p/s). McInnes set the Tritons' Division I season record for kills with 469, which also ranks second in the all-time record book. She also set the all-time season record for attacks with 1,374 and tied the all-time single match kills record with 31 against Long Beach State (Oct. 14, 2022).
In her third season of competition, McInnes has 828 career kills and 2,484 attack attempts. She is 170 kills from breaking into the top 10 all-time career kills records and 98 attempts from breaking into the top 10 all-time attack attempts records.
TOUGH DEFENSE
The Tritons averaged 2.17 blocks per set in 2022 and ranked fourth in the Big West with 271.0 total blocks. Middle blockers
Shara Da Silva and
Emily McDaniel led the way at the net for UC San Diego's defense. Da Silva ranked sixth in the conference with 1.03 blocks per set and McDaniel averaged 0.81 blocks per set, ranking 17th.
EXPERIENCED ROSTER
UC San Diego returns 12 Tritons who saw playing time during the 2022 season, including All-Big West Second Team honoree
Ava McInnes. The senior class consists of
Shara Da Silva who started 30 matches at middle blocker in 2022 and
Natalie Repetti who appeared in 29 matches as a defensive substitution. The junior class includes outside hitters
Ava McInnes and
Zaria Henderson who both started all 32 matches for the Tritons. They are joined by
Juliette Bokor,
Sabire Karacaova,
Nevada Knowles (transfer),
Emily McDaniel and
Izabella Santa Cruz. The sophomore class consists of
Dana Branavets (transfer),
Reagan Dryden,
Katie Rapp,
Aubrey Tanner,
Kayla Uhlick and
Jasmine Saran.
FRESH FACES
The Tritons added five talented newcomers to the 2023 roster, including three freshmen, a sophomore transfer and junior college transfer. The Tritons will welcome first-year scholar-athletes
Lauren Brooker (Calabasas, Calif.),
Iris Canko (Temecula, Calif.) and
Reagan McWhinney (Loveland, Colo.), as well as sophomore transfer
Dana Branavets (San Diego, Calif.) from Boise State and junior transfer
Nevada Knowles (Ventura, Calif.) from Ventura College.
TRITONS PICKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON POLL
UC San Diego was picked to finish seventh with 42 points in The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. 2022 Big West Champion Hawai'i was picked to finish first with 100 points and 10 first-place votes, followed by UC Santa Barbara (83 points) and Long Beach State (82 points, 1 first-place vote) rounding out the top three.
Cal Poly (81) was picked fourth and UC Davis (61) was voted fifth, followed by UC Irvine (54), UC San Diego (42), Cal State Bakersfield (33), Cal State Fullerton (32), CSUN (27) and UC Riverside (10).
WINNING IN THE CLASSROOM
Juliette Bokor,
Emily McDaniel,
Ava McInnes and
Natalie Repetti were four of the seven women's volleyball scholar-athletes named to the Big West All-Academic team for the 2022 fall season. Additionally, McDaniel was named to the 2022 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.
WELCOME TO LIONTREE ARENA
Since it was established nearly three decades ago, the University of California San Diego's RIMAC (Recreation, Intramural and Athletic Complex) Arena has been home to countless athletic competitions, graduations, concerts and other events that are imprinted on the memories of thousands of UC San Diego alumni, students, friends and visitors.
In June of 2022, UC San Diego announced that RIMAC Arena 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.
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
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.
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+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego women's volleyball, visit UCSDTritons.com/live.
GAME DAY GOES DIGITAL
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visit UCSDTritons.com 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+.
COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at LionTree Arena must notify a member of the Athletics Communication staff no later than 24 hours prior to the game.
Following the conclusion of each home game, a video highlight melt and video postgame interviews will be made available for media members to download.
GET SOCIAL WITH UC SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter and Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdwvb.
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!
GEAR
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories,
click here.
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 II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned 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 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
