MPSF Men's Volleyball Weekly Release
Feb. 26, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Scoreboard in PDF Format
Statistics in PDF Format
STANFORD pulled off a stunning three game sweep at top-ranked and unbeaten BYU Saturday, one night after falling just short in five. Freshman Spencer McLachlin recorded 16 kills (.310) along with eight blocks in the upset win. Sophomore Kawika Shoji picked up a double-double on 53 assists (17.67 A/G) and 15 digs (5.00 D/G). The Cardinal out-hit the Cougars (.293-.244) and won the blocking battle (13-9). BYU was also limited to one player with double-figure kills. McLachlin had 18 kills (.405) on the first night. Hawaii visits Palo Alto for a pair of mid-week MPSF contests, Wed-Thu. (Feb. 27-28).
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE junior Eric Vance slammed 23 kills (.311), the most by any MPSF player for a three-game match this year, as the Matadors won at home 3-0 over No. 7 UC Irvine last Wednesday. Senior Travis Bleumling set up 49 assists (16.33 A/G) that night. Vance came back Friday with 18 more kills (.310) and nine digs to help CSUN to a 3-1 win over No. 6 UCLA. All four games vs. the Bruins went the distance, and in game three, the Matadors fought off a total of six game points to pull out a 35-33 final. Senior Isaac Kneubuhl also nailed 18 kills (.405). Winners of six straight matches, CSUN visits first-place Long Beach State Friday (Feb. 29) and UCSD Saturday (Mar. 1) this weekend.
LONG BEACH STATE had little trouble in Columbus this past weekend, winning in four and three sets at No. 10 Ohio State. Senior Paul Lotman was huge all weekend, totaling 52 kills in seven games (7.43 K/G), including a career-high 32 (. 373) Friday. Sophomores Dean Bittner and Dan Alexander each combined for 31 kills and 10 blocks in the two wins. Alexander had 18 kills without an error (.818) on Saturday, turning in the highest hitting percentage for any MPSF player in a single match this year (Min. 12 kills). The 49ers host CS Northridge and UC Santa Barbara this weekend (Feb. 29-Mar. 1).
USC won both matches in the Hall of Fame Classic in Massachusetts this past weekend, sweeping host Springfield and edging No. 13 George Mason in five games (16-14 in game 5). Senior Juan Figueroa posted 14 kills the first night and followed up with 33 (.423) in the title match. The Trojans host Pepperdine Friday (Feb. 29) as conference action resumes.
BYU was pushed to five games for the fourth time this year last Friday, before holding off No. 9 Stanford. The Cougars then took their first loss of the season the following night in straight sets. Senior Ivan Perez had 24 kills (.579) and 16 digs in the loss. Senior Russell Holmes recorded 19 kills (.654) and four blocks in the win. The homestand continues for two with Pacific Fri-Sat.
UC IRVINE won 3-0 at home over UC Santa Barbara Saturday, and jumped to eighth in the standings. Junior Jon Steller led the attack with 16 kills. Junior setter Ryan Ammerman served three aces. The Anteaters, who fell in three at No. 4 CS Northridge earlier in the week, will host MIVA power Ohio State Friday and Saturday (Feb. 29-Mar. 1).
UC SANTA BARBARA earned its biggest win of the season with a 3-1 home upset over No. 6 UCLA last Wednesday. Freshman Jeff Menzel recorded a match-high 21 kills (.341) and Mike Runkle added 15 kills (.429), two aces, and 11 digs. The Gauchos hit a collective .341 on the night. Coming off a 3-0 loss at UCI, UCSB visits UCSD and Long Beach (Feb. 29-Mar. 1).
HAWAII took a pair of 3-1 wins at Pacific and will continue its Northern California swing Wed. and Thurs. (Feb. 27-28) to take on No. 9 Stanford. Senior Jacob Schkud had 17 kills (.471) on Monday night in Stockton. He also had a team-high 10 kills Friday.
UCLA dropped two on the road, 3-1 at No. 14 UC Santa Barbara and No. 4 CS Northridge. In Northridge, The Bruins received a career performance from sophomore Garrett Muagututia, with 31 kills at a .480 clip. Junior Sean O'Malley and Ryan Ratelle each had 16 kills in Santa Barbara. UCLA steps into the MIVA Conference this week, traveling to Ball State for two (Feb. 29-Mar.1).
PACIFIC received 22 kills and 11 digs each from senior Pekka Seppanen and sophomore Jason Borchin Monday night, but the Tigers fell 3-1 at home to Hawaii, the same result as Friday. Pacific travels to No. 3 BYU this weekend (Feb. 29-Mar. 1).
UC SAN DIEGO lost 3-1 in both matches on a MIVA trip, facing Lewis and No. 11 Loyola-Chicago. Sophomore Jason Spangler tallied a double-double vs. the Flyers on 25 kills (.320) and 12 digs. He added 16 kills and two aces vs. the Ramblers. The Tritons return home to face UCSB Friday (Feb. 29) and CSUN Saturday (Mar. 1), and do not leave La Jolla in all of March.
PEPPERDINE did not play this past week and will visit USC Friday (Feb. 29) to start a five-match road swing.
VANCE AND MCLACHLIN MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. - Cal State Northridge junior Eric Vance (Camarillo, CA/Camarillo HS) led the Matadors to a pair of MPSF home wins this past week over No. 7 UC Irvine and No. 6 UCLA. Vance totaled 41 kills (5.86 K/G) at a .310 hitting clip for the week and averaged 6.36 points, 1.71 digs, and 0.29 aces...Stanford freshman Spencer McLachlin (Honolulu, HI/ Punahou HS) combined for 34 kills (4.25 K/G) at a .354 attack as the Cardinal split at No. 1 BYU. He added eight blocks in the win (2.67B/G).