UC Irvine Men’s Volleyball represents the University of California, Irvine in the NCAA men’s game and competes in the Big West Conference. Based in Irvine, California, the Anteaters are coached by David Kniffin and have developed a reputation for combining high-level recruiting with a program identity built around technical volleyball and postseason ambition. The Bren Events Center is a central home setting for a team that has repeatedly reached the national stage.
The program owns four NCAA national championships, won in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013. UC Irvine returned to the NCAA title match in 2026, finishing 21-9 and national runner-up after a postseason run that included wins over Penn State, UCLA and Ball State. That recent result extended a history in which the Anteaters have regularly challenged the strongest programs in the sport rather than functioning only as a regional contender.
Team Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of California, Irvine |
| Program | NCAA Men’s Volleyball |
| Conference | Big West Conference |
| Location | Irvine, California, United States |
| Head Coach | David Kniffin |
| NCAA National Championships | 4 (2007, 2009, 2012, 2013) |
| 2026 Finish | NCAA national runner-up |