COSTA MESA – Men's volleyball squared off against its fifth nationally ranked opponent in their eight-game season so far as it welcomed #5 UC Irvine for the first time in program history Wednesday night at the Freed Center. The Lions swung hard in the first two frames with set scores of 23-25, 26-24, but the nonconference duel would eventually go to UCI, which closed out the evening in four sets (23-25, 26-24, 13-25, 16-25).

The Blue and Gold shift to 3-5, 0-2, with a return to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play this weekend. The Anteaters [10-0] remain one of just four teams in the nation's top 20 still unbeaten in 2026.

Logan Freemon led the Lions with 17 kills, six digs, and a season-best two aces. He hit .278 (17-7-36) and also added two block assists. After a career-high performance over this past weekend, Grant Veldman continued his strong form with 13 kills and three service aces while striking .440 (13-2-25). Cole Oliver issued out seven kills and an ace, while Brock Henderson dished out a game-high 40 assists.

Both teams produced 44 kills and were near even in assists (43-42 VU) and digs (29-27 UCI). The Anteaters were more dominant from the service line (9-6),as well as in the block department (10-3).

What Happened?
The two sides were level at 12 kills each in the opening frame.  UCI drew first blood with an ace straight to the heart of the Vanguard back row.  Their 2-0 run to start was equalized by a pair of errors before Freemon tallied his first kill of the contest, going cross-court (3-3).

The Anteaters opened up a 5-1 run to blast ahead as VU lurched out two attack errors and a service miscue (9-4 UCI). Vanguard's rebound out of the timeout was prompted by a Braddock Duckworth finish through the middle and a torrent serving run from Veldman. The transfer tallied two aces, nailed his passing in serve receive, and set up his Lions for a triple block to close out a 9-0 VU push (13-9 Vanguard).

The set of runs continued, with the Anteaters charging up at the service line. They cracked two aces back to back and boasted a 6-1 stride to pull away (16-15 UCI). The set tightened heading into the redzone as UCI pushed through off a Lion attack error.  Henderson had a setter kill, and VU used two UCI attack errors to jump out 22-21.

UC Irvine had the final say of the stanza, closing out a 4-1 run to take the set.

Set 2
Thirteen ties and four lead changes set the tone for the period. UCI only committed two attack errors (.261 8-2-23) but the Lions their match-best .310 (14-5-29).

It was all errors to start, with Oliver having the first kill of the interval on the D-set from Henderson (3-3). VU's 3-0 run was started and finished by Veldman, who picked up his third ace (6-4 VU). The Anteaters came back within one (8-7 VU) after a trifecta of VU errors by the Lions. The home team, however,  kept pace with kills by Freemon and Veldman.

The 15 total set service errors came into effect midway through the period for the next burst of scoring, but Vanguard speared a 3-0 run, including a pair of Freemon firecrackers from the service line to the set 20-all.

The Anteaters took the point off a strong double block from the pin, and a VU service error made it set point. Vanguard was unbothered; they used kills from Freemon and Veldman to flip the set point, and had Oliver to thank for handing them the set win from the service line.

Set 3

UC Irvine led the entirety of the period, clipping at a blistering .769 (10-0-13). Vanguard never converted from the service line for the remainder of the night, nor did they hit over .100. It was a game-high 9 attack errors for Vanguard to paint an Anteater wash 25-13.

Freshman Matthew Pimentel made his introduction into the front row and grabbed his first kill for VU's opening point of the period (4-1 UCI). Veldman and Freemon each scored from different pins, and Oliver had each of the next two kills to bring the Lions up to seven points (13-7 UCI).

The Anteaters doubled VU's scoring output (12-6) to finish the  period, with Koa Laboy and Veldman marking the final Lion points of the set. UCI scored five unanswered points to eventually win the frame.

Set 4
The Anteaters went for just two errors (14-2-23) and hit .522. VU were held to match low eight kills in the set.

Veldman opened the scoring, but the Lions fell victim to a 7-1 run to trail by six early (7-2 UCI). Freemon cranked two more kills, and Henderson went on two take plant the Lions' fifth point on the board (9-5 UCI).

Once again, the Anteaters carved a decisive run to pull away. It was a 6-1 push, which came with two VU attack errors and two UCI aces to flash out to a 15-7 lead. The Lions only had three more kills in the game's remaining rallies, all of which came from Veldman and Freemon (17-12 UCI). Seven of their last 10 points came from Anteater errors, but proved inconsequential as #5 UCI continued their perfect season with a 25-16 set four win.

What's Next? The Lions will take on #1 UCLA for more MPSF action on Saturday night at 7 p.m.