UCLA Extends Win Streaks; Stanford Travels to BYU

1/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Jan. 30, 2012

UCLA (4-0 MPSF, 9-1 Overall) has come out on top in its last 20 sets, and seven matches overall, heading to Pepperdine and USC in the first of six straight on the road. Last week's wins were over Northridge and UCSB in 63 and 68 minutes, respectively. The Bruins carried overall advantages of .434-.096 hitting, 25.5-6.0 blocking, and 12-4 on aces by the end of the week. Thomas Amberg totaled 17 blocks, breaking the rally scoring Bruin TB and BA records.

STANFORD (2-1 MPSF, 5-2 Overall) split at the Dunlap Invitational in Columbus, OH, falling in four to Penn State before erasing a 2-1 set deficit to Ohio State in a 3-2 win. Brian Cook (.382), Steven Irvin, and Brad Lawson all had a 17-kill outing in the win. Backup setter Dylan Kordic entered the match in set three, leading a .333 and .450 team attack in the fourth and fifth. Stanford travels to No. 1 BYU for two this weekend.

BYU (4-0 MPSF, 6-1 Overall) brings a six-match win streak into the Stanford series this weekend. Two weeks ago, the Cougars claimed home wins over USC, 3-1 and 3-2. Taylor Sander combined for a .400 attack over nine sets (48-12-90), averaging 5.33 kills per set. Robb Stowell recorded 21 kills (.375) and 11 digs for a night two double-double. The Cougars totaled 28 team blocks for the week (3.11 B/S).

UC IRVINE (3-2 MPSF, 7-2 Overall) Kevin Tillie recorded a career-high 18 kills (.567), while the Anteaters totaled 13 blocks and a .333 hitting clip for a 3-1 decision over USC last Friday. Tillie also delivered 13 kills (.478) in another four-set outcome over Pepperdine last Wednesday. Jeremy Dejno tallied 15 kills and five aces against the Waves. UCI is off until it travels to Hawaii, Feb. 10 and 12.

PEPPERDINE (5-1 MPSF, 6-2 Overall) split two conference road matches, falling at UC Irvine in four, before bouncing back at UC San Diego for a five-set comeback victory. Maurice Torres recorded two double-doubles and four aces on the week, posting 24 kills (.425) and a career-high 14 digs in the win. He hit .565 in the loss (15-2-23). Josh Taylor slammed a career-high 27 kills (.404) in La Jolla. The first to five MPSF wins, the Waves host UCLA Wednesday and UCSB Friday.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (1-3 MPSF, 3-5 Overall) used an 1100-point attack differential (.600/-.500) in the fifth set to seal a home win over Cal Baptist last Friday. Julius Hoefer hit .485 (18-2-33) with five blocks. Matt Stork added 14 kills (.345), while Jared Moore was nine for an errorless 16 (.562) with five blocks. CSN hot .500 overall (59-8-102). The Matadors visit Long Beach State Friday, taking the first MPSF meeting in five at home.

PACIFIC (1-2 MPSF, 3-5 Overall) dropped a pair of four-set matches at the Dunlap Invitational in Columbus, OH to Penn State and the host Ohio State. Florian Gornik registered a team-high 13 kills (.345) against the Lions, while Adam Troy and Taylor Hughes added 12 apiece. Gornik had 16 kills and eight digs vs. the Buckeyes. Pacific hosts Hawaii for two this weekend.

USC (3-3 MPSF, 4-3 Overall) split on the road, defeated at UC Irvine in four and winning at UC San Diego in three. Tanner Jansen hit .417 with a match-high 14 kills, and Robert Feathers stuffed a match-high seven blocks in the win. The Trojans host UC Santa Barbara Wednesday and UCLA Friday.

HAWAII (1-3 MPSF, 4-5 Overall) claimed both home matches over Grand Canyon, 3-2 and 3-1. Steven Hunt combined for 44 kills with a .300 clip in the series. Nick West hit .550 (26-4-40) with 11 blocks (1.22 B/S) in the nine sets. Nick Castello picked up 37 digs (4.11 D/S). The Warriors travel to Pacific for two in the MPSF this weekend.

LONG BEACH STATE (0-3 MPSF, 3-4 Overall) swept Cal Baptist at home last Wednesday, allowing just 44 points in a 71-minute match. The 49ers hit .429 (38-8-70), led by Jim Baughman's .647 clip (12-1-17). Princeton visits the Pyramid Tuesday (Jan. 31), before MPSF resumes Friday against Northridge.

UC SAN DIEGO (1-4 MPSF, 2-6 Overall) came up short at home, 3-2 to Pepperdine and 3-0 to USC. Carl Eberts led against the Waves with 16 kills and four blocks, and middle Fred Stahl was errorless on 12 swings at .417. The Tritons step outside the MPSF this week, hosting Princeton Tuesday (Jan. 31) and visiting Hope International Friday (Feb. 3).

UC SANTA BARBARA (0-3 MPSF, 2-5 Overall) fell 3-0 at UCLA last Friday, as Blaine Nielson had a team-high nine kills on a .389 attack. Evan Licht hit .444 (5-1-9) and served two aces. The Gauchos stay on the road this week, visiting USC Wednesday (Feb. 1) and Pepperdine Friday (Feb. 3).

THOMAS AMBERG MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UCLA senior quick hitter Thomas Amberg (El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) passed Paul Johnson for the most block assists and total blocks in UCLA rally scoring history (since 2001) with a 17-block week (2.83 B/S) in a pair of 3-0 wins over Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. He knocked down a career-high 11 total blocks against the Matadors. Amberg also hit .564 (10-1-16) through the week, and served an ace in each match. Also Nominated: Kevin Tillie (UCI); Maurice Torres (PEP); Dylan Kordic (STAN); Jim Baughman (LB); Steven Hunt (UH)