Stanford Scores Upset of Pepperdine
Feb. 16, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
UC IRVINE (7-1 MPSF, 11-2 overall) survived a long five-set battle with No. 12 UC Santa Barbara at home last Wednesday, coming back from a 2-1 deficit in sets. Jordan DuFault had a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs, while Kevin Wynne had a career-high 14 kills (.650). The Anteaters have taken over the top spot in the MPSF, and now face two showdowns at second-place teams USC Wednesday (Feb. 18) and Pepperdine Friday (Feb. 20).
USC (6-1 MPSF, 9-2 overall) defeated Pacific in three sets, as five Trojans' were in double-figure kills. Sean Dennis registered 13 kills (.357) and 11 digs. Dennis also had a 13-kill night in a 3-0 win at No. 8 Stanford, while Murphy Troy had a match-high 21 kills (.405). USC, just a half-match out of first-place in the MPSF, hosts UC Irvine Wednesday (Feb. 18) and UCLA Friday (Feb. 20). The Trojans are off to their best MPSF start (6-1) since 2001 (7-0).
STANFORD (4-5 MPSF, 8-6 overall) gave No. 2 Pepperdine its first loss of the year with a four-set win in Palo Alto Friday. The Cardinal out-hit the Waves .399-236 and also won the blocking battle, 17.5-7.0, en route to snapping a 16-game losing streak in the series. Evan Romero recorded 24 kills (.435) and Brandon Williams added 10 on 15 errorless swings (.667). Stanford dropped a 3-0 match to USC Saturday and now hits the road to CSUN and UCSB.
PEPPERDINE (6-1 MPSF, 7-1 overall) split two in Northern Cal, topping Pacific 3-0 before its first loss of the year to No. 8 Stanford 3-1. Paul Carroll turned in another huge weekend, recording 23 kills (.425), four aces, and four blocks in Stockton. In the loss, he went for 29 kills, two aces, and three blocks. Carroll averaged 7.43 Kills per set for the week. The Waves host UCLA Wednesday (Feb. 18), and in a battle at the top, UC Irvine Friday (Feb. 20).
LONG BEACH STATE (6-3 MPSF, 7-5 overall) won 3-0 and 3-1 at home over No. 10 Hawaii last Thursday and Friday. Dean Bittner combined for 40 kills (5.71 K/S) and 14 blocks (2.00 B/S) in seven sets. Josh Riley had 19 kills (.395) and six blocks Friday, as the 49ers out-blocked the Warriors 16-3 in that win. LBSU is off this week.
UC SAN DIEGO (2-5 MPSF, 6-6 overall) defeated St. Francis, 3-1, Friday and George Mason, 3-0, at the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, MA this past weekend. Will Ehrman had 14 kills (.481) and 13 digs vs. GMU, while UCSD hit 469 on the night. He also registered 18 kills (.571) to lead a .463 team attack vs. SFU. The Tritons have evened up their overall record and return to conference play at BYU for two, Friday and Saturday.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (5-2 MPSF, 9-2 overall) swept a non-conference home match over Cal Baptist last Friday. Tanner Nua and Eric Vance each had 11 kills, while Mike Gaudino added 10. The Lancers were held to .159 hitting. Setter Matt Stork dished out 44 assists (14.67 A/S) and served three aces. Pacific and Stanford visit CSUN Thursday and Friday (Feb. 19-20).
UCLA (4-3 MPSF, 7-6 overall) had two marathons in a trip to the MIVA Conference, losing in five to No. 15 Lewis and winning 20-18 in set five vs. Loyola-Chicago. Nick Vogel tallied a career-night against the Ramblers with 21 kills (.690). Jack Polales totaled 33 kills in 9 sets. The Bruins return to MPSF action at Pepperdine and USC this week.
PACIFIC (0-9 MPSF, 2-12 overall) lost in three at home to No. 2 Pepperdine and No. 5 USC. Jeff Hendershot (.450) and Sean Daley (.714) were in double-figure kills vs. the Trojans with 12 and 10 kills respectively. The Tigers head to CS Northridge and UC Santa Barbara Thursday and Friday.
UC SANTA BARBARA (1-7 MPSF, 3-8 overall) came within just a couple of points of a huge upset last Wednesday at No. 3 UC Irvine. Vince Devaney collected 69 assists and 12 digs and Scott Slaughter had 12 kills and 10 blocks as the Gauchos came up short in five. UCSB hosts Pacific and Stanford Friday and Saturday (Feb. 20-21).
HAWAII (2-6 MPSF, 3-8 overall) dropped 3-0 and 3-1 outcomes at No. 7 Long Beach State. Gus Tuiniga had 18 kills in the second match and Steven Hunt had 17 in the first. The Warriors are off this week.
BYU (3-3 MPSF, 5-6 overall) was off this past week, and hosts UC San Diego for two Friday and Saturday (Feb. 20-21). The Cougars, led by Mat Taylor's 4.14 kills per set, sit in seventh-place in the current MPSF standings.
DENNIS AND WILLIAMS MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Woodland, Calif. - USC sophomore opposite Sean Dennis (Santa Monica/Harvard-Westlake HS) combined for 26 kills in six sets (4.33 K/S), 13 put-aways in each match, helping the Trojans to 3-0 wins at Pacific and No. 8 Stanford. He had a double-double in Stockton with 11 digs. Dennis hit .357 at UOP and .385 at Stanford, and blocked a match-high five balls vs. the Cardinal. USC is off to its best MPSF start since 2001 with a 6-1 mark.
Woodland, Calif. - Stanford senior middle blocker Brandon Williams (Los Gatos, CA/Bellarmine Prep) came up big in handing No. 2 Pepperdine its first loss of the year last Friday. He tallied a season-high 10 kills in 15 errorless swings (.667), in addition to eight blocks (2.00 B/S). The Cardinal snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Waves, dating back to 2001.