MPSF Men's Volleyball Weekly Release: 2/18/08
Feb. 18, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Statistics in PDF Format
Scoreboard in PDF Format
BYU pulled out a five-game win at No. 6 UC Irvine last Friday, as the two teams set the all-time MPSF mark for the highest fifth game score with a 28-26 final. The match lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes and featured five Cougars in double-figure kills for the first time in 2008, led by senior Ivan Perez' 27 kills and 12 digs. BYU stayed unbeaten on night two, winning 3-1, as Perez added another double-double on 22 kills and 10 digs, along with three aces. Senior Russell Holmes had 15 kills (.524) and 11 blocks. No. 1 BYU (6-0 MPSF/11-0 overall) hosts Stanford this weekend (Feb. 22-23).
PEPPERDINE put an end to No. 3 Long Beach State's unbeaten season in a 3-0 upset in Malibu, in spite of a .411 attack by the 49ers. The No. 7 Waves saw the return of junior All-American opposite Paul Carroll, back from a fractured hand, who tallied 13 kills (.370). Freshman Cory Riecks led all players with 17 kills (.600). Pepperdine also got a 3-0 home win over UC San Diego as Carroll came back for 17 more kills (.520). Feb. 29 is the next match, at USC, the start of a five straight on the road.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE won a pair of road matches in the MIVA Conference, holding off a 2-0 comeback by No. 12 Loyola-Chicago in five games, and sweeping Lewis. Junior Eric Vance had match-highs 16 kills (.344) vs. the Flyers and 24 (.500) vs. the Ramblers. Senior Isaac Kneubuhl added 19 kills and three aces in Chicago, as the No. 4 Matadors hit .407. CS Northridge plays just its third and fourth home matches this week, taking on UCI Wednesday (Feb. 20) and UCLA Friday (Feb. 22).
HAWAII earned a five-game upset win over No. 5 UCLA in the first of two last Thursday. Junior Jim Clar had a team-best 18 kills along with four blocks, and 10 more kills in the loss the following night. The Warriors visit Pacific, Fri. and Mon. (Feb.22 & 25).
STANFORD won its lone match of the week, in five sets at Pacific Friday. Sophomore Evan Romero collected a match-high 20 kills. Sophomore Kawika Shoji was used as a hitter, and notched a double-double on 19 kills (.368) and 15 digs. Freshman Spencer McLachlin did the same with 16 kills and 13 digs. The Cardinal heads to top-ranked BYU this weekend (Feb. 22 & 23).
LONG BEACH STATE (8-1 MPSF, 10-1 overall) dropped its first match of the year, 3-0 at No. 7 Pepperdine, before winning in four at No. 9 USC. The fourth set in Los Angeles ended 39-37, the highest scoring frame of any MPSF team in 2008. Senior Paul Lotman pounded 28 kills (.478) that night and sophomore Dean Bittner added 23 with seven blocks. Lotman totaled 44 kills for the week (6.29 K/G). The 49ers take a break from MPSF play to visit No. 10 Ohio State Friday and Saturday (Feb. 22-23).
UCLA split at No. 15 Hawaii, edged in five games and winning in three. Junior Jamie Diefenbach put away 11 kills (.733) and seven blocks in the win. Sophomore Garrett Muagututia had a match-high 21 kills in the loss. The Bruins were without three-time All-American libero Tony Ker for both matches. The conference road swing continues at UCSB Wednesday (Feb. 20) and CS Northridge Friday (Feb. 22). Entering the week, percentage points separate CSUN and UCLA from third place.
USC split two matches, the sixth consecutive week in doing so. The No. 9 Trojans won in three over UC San Diego and lost in four to No. 3 Long Beach State. Senior Juan Figueroa recorded 16 kills (.625) and freshman Murphy Troy added 15 against the Tritons. USC now heads to Massachusetts, to face Springfield Fri. (Feb. 22) and either IPFW or George Mason Sat. (Feb. 23).
UC SANTA BARBARA won 3-0 at home Friday over UC Santa Cruz in non-conference action, with every set ending 30-28. The Gauchos were led by senior Phil Mathews' nine kills (.438). UCLA visits Wed. (Feb. 20), followed by a trip to UCI Sat. (Feb. 23).
UC IRVINE lost twice at home to top-ranked BYU, 3-2 and 3-1. Junior Jon Steller led the Anteaters on night one with 18 kills, while senior Aaron Harrell had 12 kills (.455) and nine blocks on night two. Freshman Kevin Wynne had 11 blocks in the four-game match, as UCI totaled 23.5, one shy of this year's conference single-match high. The Anteaters are now off to CS Northridge Wednesday (Feb. 20), before returning home for UC Santa Barbara Saturday (Feb. 23).
PACIFIC dropped a five-set home battle with No. 10 Stanford last Friday. Senior Pekka Seppanen recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs, also adding five blocks. The Tigers stay home for Hawaii Friday (Feb. 22) and Monday (Feb. 25).
UC SAN DIEGO fell 3-0 at No. 9 USC and No. 7 Pepperdine. Sophomore Frank Fritsch had 12 kills against both opponents. The Tritons travel to the MIVA this week, at Lewis Friday (Feb. 22) and Loyola-Chicago Saturday (Feb. 23).
HOLMES AND RIECKS NAMED MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. - BYU senior middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, CA/ Fountain Valley HS) recorded 15 kills each night at No. 6 UC Irvine as the Cougars stayed unbeaten on the year. He hit .444 (30-6-54) for the weekend, served three aces, and totaled 20 blocks in nine games (2.22 B/G). Pepperdine freshman Cory Riecks (Auburn, CA/Placer HS) totaled 27 kills (4.50 K/G) at a combined .512 (27-5-43) as the Waves gave Long Beach State its first loss, followed by a win over UCSD.