UCI duo sparkles

UC Irvine men’s volleyball players Jayson Jablonsky and David Smith

scored nine and eight points, respectively, in the United States

junior national team’s 25-22, 25-22, 35-33 pool play loss to Brazil

at the FIVB men’s U-21 world volleyball championships Sunday in

Visakhapatnam, India.

Jablonsky and Smith, playing for UCI Coach John Speraw, who is

guiding the junior national team, will be juniors in the fall for the

Anteaters.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 middle blocker, had seven kills and one block.

UCI junior-to-be Matt Webber is also competing for Team USA, which

is making its first appearance at the world championships since 1981.

Jablonsky and Webber are both 6-5 outside hitters.

Sunday’s loss dropped the Americans to 0-2 in Pool B, after they

were swept by the Netherlands in Saturday’s opener.

The United States is scheduled to complete its five-match

pool-play schedule Thursday.