BYU Wins Sixth-Straight
Feb. 9, 2011
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BYU (6-2 MPSF, 9-2 overall) Robb Stowell averaged 5.29 kills per set with a .492 attack percentage through 3-1 and 3-0 home wins over UCLA this past weekend. Joe Kauliakamoa dished 39 assists (13 A/S) in leading a .321 night two BYU attack. Futi Tavana totaled a weekend-high 13 blocks (1.86 B/S). The third place Cougars, winners of 18 of their last 19 sets, break from the MPSF to travel to the MIVA this week. They take on Loyola-Chicago Friday and Lewis Saturday.
UC SAN DIEGO (2-4 MPSF, 5-7 overall) senior setter Phil Bannan broke the school's all-time assist record in last Friday's 3-1 home loss to Pepperdine, owning 3,893, surpassing Brooks Dierdorff's ('04-'07) total of 3,867. Carl Eberts recorded 15 kills and eight digs on the night. The Tritons picked up a non-conference win over Hope International in three sets last Tuesday. This week is a visit to Pacific and Stanford (Feb. 10-11).
PEPPERDINE 1-5 MPSF, 3-5 overall) received a match-high 20 kills (.438) from Maurice Torres in the first MPSF win of the year, 3-1 at UC San Diego. Torres has reached 20 kills in four of eight matches. Kasey Crider set the Waves to .361 hitting with 47 assists. Matt Pollock recorded a match-high six blocks, as the Waves held an 11.5-4.0 team advantage. Pepperdine hosts No. 1 USC Friday (Feb. 11).
UC SANTA BARBARA (4-4 MPSF, 6-5 overall) Jeff Menzel put away a match-high 15 kills (.448) in a 3-0 sweep at Hawaii last Friday, as the Gauchos left Honolulu with a split. Cullen Irons added 11 kills and Trey Valbuena hit .462 (7-1-13). Irons led with 19 kills (.371) and Dylan Davis hit .688 (13-2-16) in the 3-1 loss. UCSB faces UCLA twice this week, visiting Westwood Wednesday (Feb. 9) before hosting the Bruins Friday (Feb. 11).
HAWAII (3-3 MPSF, 3-6 overall) split a pair at home with UC Santa Barbara, winning in four last Thursday, as Josh Walker led with 18 kills (.432) and Jonas Umlauft following with 16 (.308). The Warriors had dropped the first set before hitting .375 in taking the next three. Hawaii steps away from conference this week, hosting Cal Baptist Friday (Feb. 11) on Oahu and Saturday (Feb. 12) on Maui.
STANFORD (5-2 MPSF, 8-2 overall) won in four at home over Pacific last Wednesday as Brad Lawson had 23 kills (.487). He also hit .448 (18-5-29) and served three aces in helping the Cardinal come back from a first set loss to win at Loyola-Chicago last Saturday. Evan Barry served a trio of aces while guiding a .398 overall Cardinal attack. Stanford then scored a 3-1 win at Lewis, owning the attack (.370-.277) and block (15.5-6.5). UCSD and UCI visit Palo Alto this week.
UC IRVINE (2-4 MPSF, 5-7 overall) split its two matches at University Park, PA this past weekend, beating the host Penn State in four sets and coming up short to Ohio State in five. Cory Yoder continues to hit effectively with his fifth match of .500 or better, 14 kills on 26 errorless swings vs. the Lions. He added 20 kills (.356) against the Buckeyes. The Anteaters served 10 aces in the win, matching a 2011 MPSF-high. UCI heads to Pacific and Stanford this weekend.
PACIFIC (1-4 MPSF, 5-6 overall) competed in this year's version of the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, MA, coming away with a split. The Tigers won in three over the host Springfield before falling in three to Cal Baptist in Saturday's title match. Taylor Hughes recorded a team-high 14 kills (.346) against the Lancers. Pacific hosts UC San Diego Thursday (Feb. 10) and UC Irvine Friday (Feb. 11) as conference action resumes.
UCLA (2-4 MPSF, 7-5 overall) dropped two matches at BYU, 3-1 and 3-0. Quick hitter Weston Dunlap combined for a weekend-best .600 hitting clip (19-1-30) and Gonzalo Quiroga totaled a high of five service aces in the seven sets. Robart Page totaled a team-high 22 kills. The Bruins return home for a Wednesday match with UC Santa Barbara, before quickly returning the favor two days later.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (1-5 MPSF, 2-9 overall) fell 3-0 to Ohio State and Penn State at University Park, PA. last weekend. Tanner Nua hit .400 against both the Lions (11-3-20) and Buckeyes (9-1-20). Greg Faulkner was .500 in the middle vs. PSU (7-1-12). The Matadors host Long Beach State Friday (Feb. 11).
USC (6-0 MPSF, 6-0 overall) is coming off a bye week. Last time out, Murphy Troy hit .512 (26-5-41), picked up seven digs, and equaled a 2011 MPSF-high five aces in a 3-1 win at UCLA. Tony Ciarelli added a double-double on 15 kills and 10 digs. The 6-0 Trojans, off to their best start since 1994, visit Pepperdine Friday (Feb. 11).
LONG BEACH STATE (5-1 MPSF, 6-3 overall) is coming off a bye week. Two weeks ago, the 49ers won a pair at home in 3-0 sweeps over Pacific and No. 2 Stanford, giving them four wins over the top-five in January. Kyle Friend led the way against the Cardinal, owning 11 kills at .500 hitting, along with eight digs. Second place Long Beach State visits CS Northridge Friday.
ROBB STOWELL MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU junior opposite Robb Stowell (San Juan Capistrano, CA/Capistrano Valley HS) led the Cougars to a pair of home victories over fifth-ranked UCLA, totaling 37 kills in seven sets (5.29 K/S) and hitting .492 on the weekend. Stowell's kills led all players in both matches and were the only double-digit kills for his team on both nights. The wins give BYU six straight victories.
Also Nominated: Phil Bannan (UCSD); Cory Yoder (UCI); Brad Lawson (STAN)