USC and Stanford Win Two
Jan. 17, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
USC (2-0 MPSF, 2-0 overall) senior Murphy Troy combined for a .474 hitting attack (22-4-38) and seven blocks to lead the top-ranked Trojans to 3-0 home wins over Long Beach State and CS Northridge to begin 2011, also snapping a 17-match skid to the Matadors. Tony Ciarelli hit .429 over the two matches (19-4-35). Austin Zahn hit .500 for the week (13-2-22) and served three aces. USC heads to UC Irvine Wednesday (Jan. 19) and UC San Diego Friday (Jan. 21).
STANFORD (2-0 MPSF, 3-0 overall) defeated BYU twice at home this past weekend, 3-2 and 3-1. The Cardinal pulled out a 17-15 set five decision on Friday. Brad Lawson tallied match-highs of 20 kills (.333) in the first match and 19 kills (.467) and three aces in the second match, while Spencer McLachlin hit .381 for the weekend (31-7-63). Stanford hit .412 as a team on Saturday. The Cardinal travels to Hawaii for two this week, Friday (Jan. 21) and Sunday (Jan. 23).
UCLA (0-0 MPSF, 5-1 overall) swept through the Hawaii Outrigger Invitational, 3-1 over Penn State and Ball State and 3-0 over the host Warriors. Playing all 11 sets in the tournament, Weston Dunlap combined for a .641 hitting attack (28-3-39) while Thomas Amberg recorded a .480 weekend clip (27-3-50). The Bruins' MPSF and home opener is Wednesday before a visit to Long Beach State Friday.
LONG BEACH STATE (1-1 MPSF, 2-3 overall) Jim Baughman tallied a match-high 21 kills (.356), along with four aces, in leading a five-set comeback upset at No. 3 Pepperdine last Wednesday. Josh Riley hit .500 (17-1-32). The Beach controlled the net with a 17.0-6.5 block advantage, as Antwain Aguillard and Mike Klipsch led with 11 and eight, respectively. The 49ers host UC Santa Barbara Tuesday and UCLA Friday as MPSF action continues.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (1-1 MPSF, 2-3 overall) John Baker led a trio of players in double-figure kills, en route to a 3-2 comeback upset at No. 3 Pepperdine. Baker hit .433 (15-2-30), while Drew Staker (10-2-20) and Greg Faulkner (9-1-20) each nailed a .400 clip. The Matadors, who also had their 17-match win streak vs. USC come to an end last weekend, head to UCLA Wednesday before hosting UC Santa Barbara Friday.
UC SAN DIEGO (1-1 MPSF, 2-3 overall) setter Phil Bannan combined for eight service aces last week, including five in a four-set upset win at No. 7 UC Irvine in MPSF play. Joel Davidson and Carl Eberts recorded 15 kills apiece and Calvin Ross tallied six blocks. The Tritons host No. 1 USC Friday (Jan. 21) in a conference game before visiting Cal Baptist Saturday (Jan. 22). UCSD already has a 3-1 win over the Lancers from Jan. 8 in Santa Barbara.
UC IRVINE (1-1 MPSF, 3-3 overall) came away with an MPSF split last week, as Cory Yoder swung for a .722 clip on 18 errorless attacks (13-0-18) in leading a 3-0 home win over UC Santa Barbara Saturday. Carson Clark added 14 kills (.333) and the Anteaters controlled the overall team hitting, .363-.158. USC and Pepperdine visit the Bren Center this week, Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
UC SANTA BARBARA (1-1 MPSF, 3-2 overall) won 3-0 at UC San Diego last Friday, turning in a conference split in the first week. Jeff Menzel (.409) and Cullen Irons (.333) each put away 12 kills in the sweep, with the latter recording 11 digs to complete the double-double. Scott Slaughter hit .818 (9-0-11) and UCSB hit .407 on the night. The Gauchos visit Long Beach State Tuesday (Jan. 18) and CS Northridge Friday (Jan. 21) in two more MPSF road matches.
PACIFIC (0-0 MPSF, 3-1 overall) split two matches at MIVA opponent Indiana-Purdue Ft. Wayne last Thursday and Friday. In the Tigers' four-set win on the first night, Florian Gornik registered a match-high 19 kills (.381), to lead an overall team attack of .330. Sean Daley was errorless in 20 swings at .600 (12-0-20), along with seven blocks. Pacific hosts BYU for two, Friday and Saturday.
BYU (0-2 MPSF, 3-2 overall) dropped its conference openers at defending national champion Stanford, 3-2 and 3-1. Three Cougars were in double-figure kills on Saturday's four-set match, including Robb Stowell's 16. Futi Tavana added 11 kills (.318) and six blocks. Taylor Sander recorded 17 kills while Otavio Souza hit .667 (9-1-12) with six blocks on Friday. The Cougars remain in Northern California this week, visiting Pacific for two on Friday and Saturday.
PEPPERDINE (0-2 MPSF, 2-2 overall) fell in a pair of 3-2 home outcomes to open the conference schedule. Maurice Torres recorded a match-high 21 kills (.424), while Matt Pollock chipped in 15 kills (.519) against CS Northridge Saturday. Torres' 16 kills led four Waves' in double-figures against Long Beach State. Chase Ross served five aces vs. the 49ers.
HAWAII (0-0 MPSF, 0-3 overall) opened its season by hosting the 17th annual Outrigger Invitational, coming up short in matches against Ball State (0-3), Penn State (2-3) and UCLA (0-3). Jonas Umlauft combined for 41 kills in eight sets (5.13 K/S), hitting .302 in the tournament. The Warriors host Stanford in their MPSF openers Friday and Sunday.
BRAD LAWSON MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stanford junior outside hitter Brad Lawson (Honolulu, HI/Iolani HS) combined for 39 kills in nine sets (4.33 K/S) while hitting .391 to lead a pair of home wins over second-ranked BYU. The 2010 conference player of the year also served three aces in the four-set match on night two. Perhaps most importantly, with Stanford down 12-10 in the fifth set Friday, Lawson delivered four kills including a pair to fight off two match points en route to a 17-15 win. Also Nominated: Maurice Torres (PEP); Weston Dunlap (UCLA); Jim Baughman (LBSU); Cory Yoder (UCI); Phil Bannan (UCSD); Murphy Troy (USC)