Five Teams in Pursuit of No. 1 Seed
April 5, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
STANFORD (13-5 MPSF, 16-5 overall) recovered from a 3-1 loss at CSUN with a win at UCSB in three, as Brad Lawson collected 38 kills and four aces on the trip. The Stanford-Pepperdine showdown takes place Friday (Apr. 9) in Palo Alto. These are the only teams that control their own destiny for an MPSF Tournament No. 1 seed. Wins over Pepperdine and USC (Saturday) would at least clinch the first round home court for the Cardinal.
PEPPERDINE (12-6 MPSF, 14-7 overall) split a pair of five-set decisions at home, topping UCLA and coming up short to UC Irvine. In the win, Tyler Jaynes had four of his 10 blocks in set five and Cory Riecks had 17 kills. One match out of first with four to play, the Waves are set for a Friday trip to Stanford Friday (Apr. 9), followed by Pacific Saturday (Apr. 10). Pepperdine controls its own fate for an MPSF Tournament No. 1 seed, owning tiebreakers over BYU and CSUN.
BYU (14-6 MPSF, 18-7 overall) pulled to within percentage points of first place with a pair of four-set wins at Long Beach State. The Cougars combined for 23.5 blocks on night one in the Pyramid, one shy of their program record set the prior weekend. Robb Stowell delivered 19 kills (.389), 11 digs, nine blocks, and two aces, before a career-high 26 kills (.657) with 11 digs on night two. BYU clinches home court in the MPSF first round with two wins over CSUN, Apr. 16-17.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (13-6 MPSF, 18-7 overall) picked up two wins at home, defeating top-ranked Stanford for the second time, 3-1, and Pacific, 3-0. CSUN had five players in double-digit kills vs. the Cardinal, led by Theo Edwards' 17. Jacek Ratajczak added 15 kills (.414) and nine blocks. The Matadors held a 16.0-7.5 blocking advantage. Just one-half out of first and still in quest for a regular season title, CSUN would host the first round by winning out.
HAWAII (13-7 MPSF, 17-8 overall) freshman Jonas Umlauft put away 28 kills (.435) in the 3-1 Friday home win over UC San Diego. Josh Walker delivered 17 kills each night. The Warriors clinched an MPSF Tournament appearance, and still vie for hosting the first round, in light of holding tiebreakers over BYU, Pepperdine, and CSUN. Amongst other scenarios, UH would host with two wins at UCSB (Apr. 16-17), along with one more loss for any of three aforementioned.
USC (10-8 MPSF, 13-9 overall) won two at home, 3-2 over UC Irvine and 3-0 over UCLA, and is one win away from securing a postseason appearance. That can be achieved this weekend at Pacific and Stanford, amongst other possibilities. Tony Ciarelli recorded 28 kills (.429) and five aces vs. UCI and Murphy Troy had 18 kills (.485) vs. UCLA. Troy also accumulated 22 kills and a career-high 15 digs to lead a comeback win vs. the Anteaters.
UC IRVINE (7-11 MPSF, 12-13 overall) won its first five-set match in nine tries this year, bumping Pepperdine out of first place on the road. Carson Clark had 24 kills in the win and 30 at USC. The Anteaters can put themselves into a tie for the final playoff spot with a win over Long Beach State Wednesday (Apr. 7) and a CSUN win over UCSB.
UC SANTA BARBARA (8-11 MPSF, 11-14 overall) split at home with a 3-0 win over Pacific and 3-0 loss to Stanford. Jeff Menzel recorded 14 kills (.333) in the win. The Gauchos, one-half out of the final playoff spot with three to play, visit CS Northridge Wednesday (Apr. 7) before non-conference at home with Penn State Friday (Apr. 9).
UCLA (9-9 MPSF, 14-11 overall) dropped two on the road, 3-2 at Pepperdine and 3-0 at USC. Brett Perrine and Ryal Jagd had career nights off the bench in Malibu with 20 and 10 kills, respectively. Like the rest of the conference, the Bruins have a wide range of possible outcomes in the standings. However, three wins in their last four secures a postseason bid, with the search beginning this weekend at Long Beach State and UC San Diego.
LONG BEACH STATE (8-10 MPSF, 12-13 overall) middle Dan Alexander served four aces and took 14 errorless swings at .571 in the second home loss to BYU on Friday. The 49ers hold the eighth and final playoff ticket entering the week at UC Irvine Wednesday (Apr. 7) and at home vs. UCLA Friday (Apr. 9).
UC SAN DIEGO (4-14 MPSF, 8-17 overall) dropped two at Hawaii, 3-1 and 3-0. Frank Fritsch combined for 33 kills on the trip, including 22 (.410) in the four-setter. The Tritons host UC Irvine and UCLA this weekend (Apr. 9-10).
PACIFIC (0-18 MPSF, 8-18 overall) fell in three at UC Santa Barbara and CS Northridge. Taylor Hughes had 16 kills and Sean Daley had nine kills on 13 errorless swings (.692) at CSUN. The Tigers host USC and Pepperdine this week.
STOWELL AND TROY MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
BYU sophomore opposite Robb Stowell (San Juan Capistrano, CA/Capistrano Valley HS) recorded a double-double each night in leading a pair of 3-1 wins at Long Beach State to pull to within percentage points of first. Thursday, he was one block shy of a triple-double in an all-around effort, posting 19 kills (.389), 11 digs, nine blocks, and two aces. Friday, Stowell came right back with a career night on 26 kills while hitting .657, and picked up 11 digs, four blocks and an ace. He hit .521 on the trip (45-8-71), averaging 2.75 digs, 1.63 blocks, 0.38 aces, and 6.81 points per set.
USC junior opposite Murphy Troy (St. Louis, MO/University HS) combined for 40 kills (5.00 K/S) while hitting .311, in a 3-2 comeback win over UC Irvine and 3-0 win over UCLA. Troy averaged 0.25 aces, 1.00 blocks (three of eight solo), 2.62 digs, and 5.94 points per set for the week. His .485 clip vs. UCLA was a season-high and 15 digs vs. UCI was a career-high.
Also Nominated: Jonas Umlauft (UH); Brad Lawson (STAN); Carson Clark (UCI); Mike Gaudino (CSUN)