BYU Wins UCSB Invitational
Jan. 10, 2011
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BYU (0-0 MPSF, 3-0 overall) won the 47th annual UC Santa Barbara Invitational with a perfect 3-0 record, defeating Cal Baptist in four and Long Beach State in three on Friday, and the host Gauchos in four in Saturday's finals. Tournament MVP Taylor Sander recorded a match-high of 16 kills (.500), while the Cougars had a 17-3 advantage on team blocks in the championship match. BYU heads to Stanford Friday (Jan. 14) and Saturday (Jan. 15) for a pair of MPSF contests.
UC SANTA BARBARA (0-0 MPSF, 2-1 overall) hosted the UCSB Invitational this past weekend and reached the tournament finals. The Gauchos defeated CS Northridge in three and UCLA in four before Saturday's loss to BYU. UCSB hit .526 against CSUN, let by Cullen Irons' .857 clip (12-0-14). Irons also led the second win with 18 kills. Jeff Menzel totaled 40 weekend kills, including 15 in the finals. MPSF opens at UC San Diego Friday and UC Irvine Saturday.
UCLA (0-0 MPSF, 2-1 overall) won two of three at UCSB in taking the tournament bronze. The Bruins erased a two-set deficit to win in five against Long Beach State in Saturday's third place game. Jeremy Casebeer put away a match-high 14 kills (.346) to lead the comeback, while Matt Hanley added 11 (.348). UCLA also picked up a 3-1 Friday win over UC San Diego, and heads to another tournament in Hawaii this week to face Penn State, Ball State, and the host Warriors.
LONG BEACH STATE (0-0 MPSF, 1-2 overall) placed fourth in Santa Barbara with a season opening Friday win over UC Irvine, 3-1. Saturday, freshman Taylor Crabb had a team-high 11 kills in the five-set, third place match against UCLA. Kory Matsukado led the back row with a match-high 10 digs. The 49ers begin conference on the road this week, at Pepperdine Wednesday (Jan. 12) and at USC Friday (Jan. 14).
UC IRVINE (0-0 MPSF, 2-2 overall) split four matches in the first week of the season, avenging a season opening loss against Cal Baptist, falling in four to Long Beach State, and taking fifth in Santa Barbara with a 3-1 win over CS Northridge. UCI hit .409 in the win over the Matadors as Cory Yoder delivered 14 kills (.414) and Kevin Carroll hit .455 (13-3-22). The Anteaters host UC San Diego Wednesday (Jan. 12) and UC Santa Barbara Saturday (Jan. 15).
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (0-0 MPSF, 1-2 overall) won a four-set Friday match over UC San Diego en route to placing sixth. Drew Staker hit .824 in the win (15-1-17) and Tanner Nua recorded 13 kills at. 333. Brandon Lebrock had 12 kills (.391) in the fifth place game vs. UC Irvine. The Matadors visit USC Wednesday and Pepperdine Saturday as conference play opens.
UC SAN DIEGO (0-0 MPSF, 1-2 overall) won the seventh place match, 3-1 over Cal Baptist, as junior Shane Veiga contributed 15 kills. Setter Phil Bannan dished his 3, 500th career assist on day one in losses to CS Northridge and UCLA. Veiga had 19 kills vs. the Matadors and 14 vs. the Bruins. The Tritons visit UC Irvine Wednesday and host UC Santa Barbara Friday.
PEPPERDINE (0-0 MPSF, 1-0 overall) won 3-1 Sunday in the first of two home matches with Ohio State to begin 2011, as junior Chase Ross knocked down a career-high 20 kills with a .581 hitting attack. Maurice Torres added 13 kills and Tyler Jaynes totaled nine blocks. The Waves hit .437 as a team. Match two in the series with the Buckeyes is Monday (Jan. 10), before MPSF kicks in Wednesday vs. Long Beach State and Saturday vs. CS Northridge.
PACIFIC (0-0 MPSF, 2-0 overall) won twice at home over Hope International last Thursday and Friday to begin 2011. Taylor Hughes hit .440 (15-4-25) in the first match sweep, while HIU hit .039 as a team. Chaz Hindley was errorless on 16 swings (12-0-16) in the 3-1 Friday win. Sean Daley added a .667 clip (15-1-21). The Tigers remain outside the conference, traveling to MIVA opponent Indiana-Purdue Ft. Wayne for two, Thursday (Jan. 13) and Friday (Jan. 14).
STANFORD (0-0 MPSF, 1-0 overall) began defense of its 2010 national championship with a 3-0 win over UC Santa Cruz last Wednesday. Reigning conference player of the year Brad Lawson recorded 11 kills while the Slugs were held to .083 hitting on the night. MPSF begins with a pair of home matches this Friday and Saturday against 3-0 and UCSB Invite Champion BYU.
HAWAII (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 overall) opens its season this Thursday by hosting the 17th annual Outrigger Invitational. The Warriors face Ball State on day one, Penn State Friday, and UCLA Saturday. Hawaii returns four starters, including All-Americans Jonas Umlauft and Josh Walker from last year's 19-10 and MPSF Semifinalist team.
USC (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 overall) hosts two MPSF games to begin its season, as CS Northridge and Long Beach State visit on Wednesday (Jan. 12) and Friday (Jan. 14), respectively. The Trojans are preseason No. 1 in the AVCA Poll, returning nearly everyone from last year's sixth place team and the 2009 NCAA Finalist Team.
TAYLOR SANDER MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU freshman outside hitter Taylor Sander (Norco, CA/Norco HS) was named UC Santa Barbara Invitational MVP in his first collegiate week, leading the championship match victory with 16 kills on a .500 hitting attack, along with six blocks. He combined for 42 kills in 11 sets (3.82 K/S) over a perfect 3-0 BYU weekend.
Also Nominated: Jeff Menzel (UCSB); Chase Ross (PEP); Alex Scattaregia (UCLA); Jim Baughman (LBSU); Phil Bannan (UCSD); Erik Shoji (STAN)