Early Season Surprises in the MPSF
Jan. 25, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
UCLA (2-2 MPSF, 3-4 overall) recorded one of the nation's largest shockers in the young season, 3-0 at No. 2 CS Northridge last Friday. With the help of 14 blocks, the Bruins held the Matadors to .052 hitting, and well under .100 in each set. Dylan Bowermaster had 10 kills (.400), four blocks, and a career-high five aces. In a 3-2 comeback win over UCSB, Garrett Muagututia tallied 17 kills, 12 digs, and three aces. UCLA hosts BYU Friday and Saturday (Jan. 29-30).
UC SANTA BARBARA (2-2 MPSF, 2-5 overall) scored a major upset on the road last Friday, winning 3-1 at No. 4 UC Irvine. Jeff Menzel collected a match-high 27 kills (.302) and Cullen Irons picked up a double-double on 22 kills (.375) and 10 digs. Vince Devaney dished out 65 assists (16.25 A/G) and led a .340 overall Gaucho attack. Menzel put away 25 kills (.345) in the loss at UCLA. UCSB travels to Stanford Thursday (Jan. 28) and Pacific Friday (Jan. 29).
UC SAN DIEGO (1-3 MPSF, 2-5 overall) pulled off a four-set stunner at No. 7 Pepperdine last Wednesday, its first-ever victory over the Waves in 38 all-time meetings. Frank Fritsch tallied 20 kills (.359) and Jason Spangler added 19 (.424). Calvin Ross hit .667 in 12 errorless swings while knocking down six blocks. The Tritons' home opener is Wednesday (Jan. 27) against Princeton, while MPSF resumes at Long Beach State Friday.
USC (4-0 MPSF, 6-1 overall) won a pair of 3-0 MPSF home matches this past week, defeating Long Beach State and UC San Diego. Murphy Troy combined for 37 kills in the six sets (6.17 K/S) for the week. Riley McKibbin recorded 50 assists (16.67 A/S) and nine digs vs. the 49ers, and led his team to over. 300 hitting on both nights. The Trojans, off to their best overall and MPSF start since 2000, visit Pepperdine Friday.
BYU (3-1 MPSF, 5-2 overall) split two 3-1 matches at home against No. 3 Stanford. Andrew Stewart picked up a double-double in the Friday win on 21 kills (.366) and 12 digs. Reed Chilton collected 65 assists (16.25 A/S) and five blocks. In the four-set loss, Robb Stowell recorded 22 kills (.457), while Russell Lavaja had 15 kills (.565) and six blocks. The Cougars are on the road for eight straight, beginning this weekend at UCLA (Jan. 29-30).
STANFORD (3-1 MPSF, 3-1 overall) came away with a weekend split at No. 5 BYU, each in four sets. Brad Lawson tallied 22 kills (.439) and Gus Ellis compiled 12 kills (.385) and nine blocks in the win. Evan Romero had 23 kills (.348) in the loss. The Cardinal hosts UC Santa Barbara Thursday and CS Northridge Friday.
HAWAII (2-2 MPSF, 4-3 overall) won twice at Pacific last Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-1 and 3-0. Matt Rawson collected 10 kills (.400) and eight blocks in the four-set win. Steven Hunt served four aces on night two, and Jonas Umlauft totaled 36 kills over the seven sets in Stockton (5.14 K/S). The Warriors host UC Irvine Friday and Saturday.
LONG BEACH STATE (2-2 MPSF, 3-4 overall) recovered from its 3-0 loss at USC with a 3-0 win at No. 7 Pepperdine last Saturday. After a 20-kill effort (.356) vs. the Trojans, Dean Bittner hit a career-high .833 (20-0-24) in Malibu on 24 errorless attacks. The 49ers held a .407-.169 hitting advantage in the win. UCSD visits on Friday.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (3-1 MPSF, 6-1 overall) topped No. 4 UC Irvine, 3-1 last Wednesday, as four Matadors' were in double-figure kills. Theo Edwards and Tanner Nua each tallied 18, while Matt Stork delivered 62 assists (15.50 A/S). CSUN heads to Stanford and Pacific this weekend.
PEPPERDINE (1-3 MPSF, 1-4 overall) received a career-high 27 kills (.413) from Maurice Torres in the 3-1 home loss to UC San Diego last Wednesday. Kasey Crider dished out 68 assists in leading the Waves to a .353 attack that night. Cory Riecks had 16 kills (.519) in the 3-0 loss to Long Beach State. The Waves host No. 1 USC Friday.
UC IRVINE (1-3 MPSF, 4-4 overall) dropped a pair of 3-1 decisions, at No. 2 CS Northridge and at home to No. 11 UC Santa Barbara. Carson Clark had 23 kills (.349) and Bryan Simmons had nine blocks in the Matadome. The Anteaters host Princeton Tuesday (Jan. 26), before traveling to Hawaii (Jan. 29-30).
PACIFIC (0-4 MPSF, 4-4 overall) fell 3-1 and 3-0 at home to Hawaii this past week. Taylor Hughes (.386) and Florian Gornik (.286) had 23 kills each in the four-set match. The Tigers host UCSB Friday and Northridge Saturday.
BITTNER AND BOWERMASTER MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Long Beach State senior Opposite Dean Bittner (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood HS) totaled 40 kills, on back-to-back 20-kill outings (6.67 K/S, .522), as the 49ers split two conference matches on the road. In Saturday's 3-0 win at No. 7 Pepperdine, he hit a career-high .833 on 24 errorless swings, along with one ace. In the loss at No. 1 USC, Bittner hit .356 with three blocks and an ace.
UCLA junior outside hitter Dylan Bowermaster (Huntington Beach, CA/Mater Dei HS) fired off five aces, three in succession, in a 3-0 upset at No. 2 CS Northridge. He hit .400 in that win (10-4-15), along with career-highs of four blocks, 17.5 points, eight digs, and a .960 reception percentage. Coming off the bench in set four, Bowermaster sparked a 3-2 comeback win over UCSB with eight points, .556 attack, and two key fifth-set blocks.
Also Nominated: Murphy Troy (USC); Jonas Umlauft (UH); Brad Lawson (STAN); Jeff Menzel (UCSB)