UCSB Wins MPSF Title
May 2, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
UC SANTA BARBARA (11-11 MPSF, 17-14 Overall) In its first MPSF Championship match appearance since Todd Rogers was setting in 1996, the Gauchos won their first ever title and are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 23 years with a five set comeback win at No. 1 seed USC. UCSB, along with the No. 7 seeded '06 UCLA team, are the lowest seeds ever to come out as MPSF Champions. Tournament MVP Jeff Menzel combined for 51 kills (5.67 K/S), while hitting .349 in the wins over Long Beach State and USC. Scott Slaughter hit a two-match collective .625 (21-1-32).
USC (20-2 MPSF, 23-3 Overall) was the top seed and host of the MPSF Semifinals and Championship, defeating No. 4 UC Irvine 3-1 last Thursday. Tony Ciarelli recorded a match-high 23 kills (.447) and Murphy Troy added 17 (.455) in the semifinal win, while Riley McKibbin set a .381 team attack. Libero Henry Cassiday picked up a career-high 19 digs. In the finals, Ciarelli posted 23 kills (.419) and Troy delivered 20 along with three aces, both all-tournament selections. Its second appearance in the last three years, the Trojans were selected as an NCAA At-Large and are the No. 1 seed.
UC IRVINE (14-8 MPSF, 19-12 Overall) was the MPSF Tournament No. 4 seed, coming up short at No. 1 USC in the MPSF Semifinals in four sets. Senior all-tournament hitter Jordan DuFault tallied an Anteater-high of 16 kills on a .353 attack, while junior opposite Carson Clark added 14 kills (.294) and six digs. Senior setter Anthony Spittle led a .328 offense, dishing 45 assists (11.25 A/S) while two of his three blocks were solos.
LONG BEACH STATE (12-10 MPSF, 15-14 Overall) had its postseason run come to an end in the MPSF Semifinals last Thursday with a 3-1 defeat to No. 7 seed UC Santa Barbara. Freshman all-tournament honoree Taylor Crabb led the Beach with 14 kills and eight digs, while senior Josh Riley followed with 12 kills and eight digs. Senior first-team all- conference selection Antwain Aguillard and junior Jim Baughman both chipped in nine kills.
2011 MPSF ZAMST ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS Jeff Menzel (MVP), UC Santa Barbara
Trey Valbuena, UC Santa Barbara
Scott Slaughter, UC Santa Barbara
Tony Ciarelli, USC
Murphy Troy, USC
Jordan DuFault, UC Irvine
Taylor Crabb, Long Beach State