A banner year for Anteaters

The biggest day in the history of UC Irvine athletics not only stretched the boundaries of reason, it also posed a substantial logistical challenge for those compelled to keep tabs.

On June 18 in Washington, D.C., the men’s volleyball team was recognized on the South Lawn of the White House for claiming the program’s first NCAA championship six weeks prior.

Just a few hours later in Omaha. Neb., the baseball team was on its way to winning the longest game in College World Series history, capturing the hearts of many fans in attendance at Rosenblatt Stadium, as well as those of a national television audience that took in the five-hour, 40 minute diamond drama.

But in the event that UCI students, faculty, alumni and supporters were tending to unrelated affairs back in Orange County, all they needed to do to catch up was to watch the late West Coast edition of SportsCenter.

It was on this edition of ESPN’s nightly recap show that one could witness President George W. Bush, standing before Coach John Speraw’s volleyball team and uttering the phrase “Go Anteaters!”

Viewers of the same program were also treated to highlights of the baseball squad’s 5-4, come-from-behind, elimination-game victory over Big West Conference rival Cal State Fullerton.

It was UCI’s first College World Series triumph, and it punched the ticket home for the four-time national champion Titans, for whom UCI Coach Dave Serrano had both played and coached.

For one day, at least, UCI took its place among the collegiate athletic pantheon dominated for years by the likes of USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida and others.

For one day, the denizens of the national sports penthouse stepped aside to observe the substantial swagger of the heretofore anonymous Anteaters.

But as the next 24 hours would attest — when UCI’s equally compelling 8-7 comeback win over Arizona State in the College World Series unfolded before yet another ESPN television audience — the ‘Eaters’ propensity to consume attention as well the competition, was hardly an isolated incident during the 2006-07 school year.

“The overall success of the year is unprecedented,” said Bob Olson, UCI’s assistant athletic director in charge of athletic communications, who has been promoting the athletic program for 25 years.

In addition to the national championship in men’s volleyball, only the fourth Division I title achieved by the school (the other three garnered by men’s water polo), UCI produced conference championships in men’s and women’s golf, and men’s swimming and diving.

Women’s golf finished 19th in the NCAA Championships, while men’s swimming and diving (25th), women’s tennis (33rd with its first NCAA Championships appearance), women’s swimming (33rd) and men’s golf (58th) also stood out on their respective postseason stages.

The coed sailing team was fourth at the national championships, and the women’s sailors finished sixth nationally.

All this factored into UCI finishing 56th in the Directors’ Cup, which ranks the nation’s 285 Division I athletic programs based on overall success.

UCI finished No. 1 among Division I schools that do not offer football.

“To finish the No. 1 school in I-AAA (non-football schools) is a tremendous credit to our coaches and athletes,” Olson said. “And to finish 56th in the Directors’ Cup, ahead of some BCS power football schools, is an amazing accomplishment for the university.”

The marquee finishes of men’s volleyball and baseball, which wound up tied for third in Omaha, punctuated the best overall success ever achieved by UCI athletics. Both the volleyball title, a four-game triumph over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne on May 5 at Ohio State, and the aforementioned baseball success that followed unprecedented titles in the regional (at Round Rock, Texas) and Super Regional (against host Wichita State), occurred through the prism of national television that seldom shines on the Anteaters.

“When you start playing your games on ESPN and you’re highlighted on SportsCenter each night, that creates a whole new awareness for the country and benefits the university,” Olson said.

“I think for people on the outside [the watershed year] added credibility to our athletic program,” Olson said. “It obviously strengthened our identity and it should help out in recruiting for all sports, not just baseball and volleyball. People are now aware of where UC Irvine is and who we are and they realize that we can compete on a high national level and excel.

“Probably the last time UCI was on a national platform was when Kevin Magee was a two-time first-team Associated Press All-American [in men’s basketball in the early 1980s],” Olson said.

In addition to the aforementioned team finishes, the women’s and men’s water polo programs were ranked nationally as high as No. 9 and No. 11, respectively.

Eight individuals received All-American honors in five sports, including first-team men’s volleyball honorees David Smith (American Volleyball Coaches Assn. and Asics/Volleyball Magazine) and Jayson Jablonsky (Asics/Volleyball Magazine).

Men’s water polo player Colin Mello was named second-team All-American, as were men’s volleyball players Matt Webber and Brian Thornton.

Men’s soccer standout Brad Evans and baseball pitcher Scott Gorgen earned third-team All-American laurels, while women’s water polo player Robyn Kaake received honorable mention.

Evans, as well as women’s cross country runners Laura Olvera and Sara Michelson earned All-West Region recognition.

On the conference level, Selaneé Henderson (women’s golf), Randall Tom (men’s swimming), Lyndsay DePaul (women’s swimming) and Brian Edick (men’s golf) were named Player of the Year.

Further, Evans (Offensive Player of the Year), Matt Murphy (Midfielder of the Year) and Kenny Schoeni (Co-Goalkeeper of the Year) earned men’s soccer honors.

Angie Ned (women’s basketball) was named Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Serrano was tabbed National Coach of the Year by Baseball America, while men’s soccer head man George Kuntz was named Far West Region Coach of the Year.

Mike Edles (women’s tennis) was named Region Coach of Year, while Paul Smolinski (men’s golf) and Brian Pajer (men’s swimming and diving) earned Coach of the Year honors in the Big West Conference.

“If you think about it, had men’s soccer not been slighted [denied a bid into the 64-team NCAA Championships by the selection committee], we probably would have finished in the top 40, or even in the 30s, in the Directors’ Cup, because they could have gone deep in the postseason also,” Olson said. “They were the last team to beat [eventual national champion and Big West rival] UC Santa Barbara.”

In addition to the aforementioned benefits to recruiting, the athletic success has increased school pride among the student body, as well as alumni, Olson said.

“I think a lot more people will be wearing UCI gear around campus, instead of UCLA, USC or Cal [apparel].”

Olson, like a handful of staffers, parents and fans on hand in Omaha, will always cherish the memories.

“I had always wanted to go to Omaha, but I told myself I would never go unless UCI was competing there, Olson said. “So, to finally have the opportunity to go, then to see how that city, and the nation, basically adopted the Anteaters …

“That night when Ollie Linton came to bat prior to his game-winning RBI against Arizona State, 29,000 people were on their feet chanting [‘Ollie, Ollie’] for him. It was obviously very special for him, but it was very special for me, too. That’s just a feeling that would be hard to duplicate.”

Athletic Director Bob Chichester announced in June that he would resign, effective some time in August, ending a five-year tenor at the helm of the athletic program. Paula Smith is now the interim athletic director.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].