Anteaters seek upset in big test against Matadors

Who: Cal State Northridge at UC Irvine

When: Tonight, 7

Where: Bren Events Center

Breakdown: The No. 5-ranked UC Irvine men’s volleyball team will meet No. 2-ranked Cal State Northridge with sole possession of first place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation at stake ... UCI (4-1, 1-0 in conference) is one of three teams tied atop the standings after opening conference with a four-game win at UC Santa Barbara Wednesday ... Northridge (4-0, 1-0) is off to its best start since 1985 and the Matadors claimed the crown at the UCSB tournament completed Saturday ... UCI redshirt freshman Carson Clark, a 6-foot-5 opposite, pounded a career-high 24 kills and hit .625 against UCSB and he is the early go-to guy for 6-8 senior setter Ryan Ammerman ... UCI finished fifth at the UCSB tournament, where Clark made the all-tournament team ... Sophomore middle blocker Kevin Wynne, a returning starter, had eight block assists against the Gauchos ... Northridge, which opened conference play by sweeping No. 8-ranked UCLA, is led by senior All-American Eric Vance, a 6-4 outside hitter who had 18 kills and hit .412 against the Bruins ... Tanner Nua, a 6-8 sophomore opposite, and 6-7 junior middle blocker Kevin McKniff are additional threats for the Matadors ... Matt Stork, a 6-4 freshman who starts at setter, is the son of Jeff Stork, a former U.S. national team setter and Olympian who is the coach of the Northridge women’s team ... Stanford is also atop the standings, but the Cardinal play a nonconference match against Ohio State tonight.

— Barry Faulkner