BYU Visits UCLA as Each Control No. 1 Seed
April 2, 2012
MPSF Men's Volleyball Weekly Release - 4/2/12
BYU (16-4 MPSF, 20-5 Overall) posted three and four-set home wins over CS Northridge last week, and in the process, placed the No. 1 MPSF Tournament seed in its own hands. The Cougars travel to UCLA to end the conference schedule this weekend (Apr. 6 & 7), where a pair of wins would guarantee the top seed and home court in their MPSF postseason run. BYU owns the tiebreaker over both UC Irvine and USC, defeating each team twice in conference action.
UCLA (14-4 MPSF, 20-5 Overall) bounced back from a 3-1 Friday loss at UC San Diego with a 3-0 win at top-ranked UC Irvine the next night, abruptly controlling its own path to an MPSF No. 1 seed. The Bruins enter the week one match behind BYU, one-half behind UCI, and tied with USC. Following the visit by BYU this week, UCLA heads to Stanford and Pacific on the final weekend. Tiebreakers are owned over UCI (head-to-head MPSF sets), and USC (head-to-head MPSF points).
USC (14-4 MPSF, 18-4 Overall) extended its win streak to 13 matches, its longest since 1991, two years prior to MPSF existence. The No. 1 Trojans collected their 13th sweep of the year in Friday's match with Pacific, followed by a four-setter over Stanford. Home finales with UC San Diego and UC Irvine are this week, followed by a trip to LBSU and CSN. Multiple scenarios give USC a top seed, one of which is by winning the remaining four along with one loss each by BYU and UCLA.
UC IRVINE (15-4 MPSF, 19-4 Overall) Jeremy Dejno hit .524 (14-3-24) and Carson Clark hit .429 (11-2-21) in a 3-0 home win over UCSB last Friday. The Anteaters, who then had their 10-match win streak end by UCLA, visit Pepperdine Thursday (Apr. 5) and USC Saturday (Apr. 7), followed by a season-ending Apr. 14 match at UCSD. Amongst several scenarios, UCI would be the MPSF Tournament's No. 1 seed by winning out, along with a loss each for BYU and UCLA.
STANFORD (12-5 MPSF, 15-6 Overall) split in its final two regular season road contests, edging Pepperdine in five before falling short at USC. The Cardinal has five to play over the next two weeks, all at home, taking on Pacific, Long Beach State, Northridge, UCSB, and UCLA. Entering this week, Stanford sits 1.5 matches from the final quarterfinal hosting position (top-four). Tiebreakers are held over BYU and UCI, not over USC, and currently not over UCLA.
UC SAN DIEGO (6-13 MPSF, 8-16 Overall) is within one-half match of the MPSF playoff picture, on the heels of two more conference wins, defeating No. 3 UCLA (3-1) and No. 15 UCSB (3-0). The Tritons extended their win streak to five, a feat not accomplished since 1990, three seasons prior to MPSF existence. Vaun Lennon provided the Tritons with a .465 attack for the week (25-5-43). UCSD has three to play in league; at USC, at Pepperdine, and a home date with UCI.
LONG BEACH STATE (8-10 MPSF, 13-12 Overall) picked up two victories at Hawaii, 3-0 and 3-1. Taylor Crabb hit .421 (20-4-38) in the second match. The 49ers have four to play in the regular season, traveling to Stanford and Pacific this week, followed by hosting USC and Pepperdine to end the regular season. Though it may not be required, two wins guarantees a postseason spot for the Beach.
PEPPERDINE (8-10 MPSF, 13-11 Overall) was involved in a pair of five-set home matches last week, falling to Stanford before recovering against Pacific. Maurice Torres totaled 45 kills (4.50 K/S) for the week, surpassing 20 each night. The Waves host UC Irvine and UC San Diego this week, followed by visits to Northridge and Long Beach next week. Though it may not be necessary, two wins guarantees the Waves entry into the MPSF Tournament.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (6-12 MPSF, 10-15 Overall) dropped three and four-set matches at BYU last week. The Matadors would punch a postseason ticket if they were to run the table at Stanford and Pacific, and at home vs. Pepperdine and USC. Four wins may not be necessary, however. CSUN holds tiebreakers over UC San Diego (head-to-head MPSF sets), Hawaii (head-to-head MPSF matches), and thus far has a win over Pacific.
PACIFIC (4-13 MPSF, 7-16 Overall) fell at USC and Pepperdine, and now looks to three home matches this week with Stanford, Northridge, and Long Beach State. The Tigers are still searching for an MPSF Tournament bid, needing a minimum of two wins in their final five for that possibility. Two wins would also mean Hawaii has to fall once this week, and UCSD and Northridge both have to lose the rest of the way, as the Tigers would then hold a three-way Tiebreaker.
HAWAII (4-16 MPSF, 7-18 Overall) dropped 3-0 and 3-1 outcomes to Long Beach State in the final home matches of the year in Honolulu. Steven Hunt accumulated a series-high 36 kills (5.14 K/S), followed by Harrison Carroll with 31, while hitting .357. Nick Castello totaled a two-match high of 27 digs (3.86 D/S). The Warriors close their season at UC Santa Barbara this weekend.
UC SANTA BARBARA (3-15 MPSF, 5-17 Overall) dropped a pair of three-set matches at top-ranked UC Irvine and UC San Diego. Evan Licht served three aces in La Jolla and Matt Marsh tied a match-high 14 kills with a .407 hitting clip at UCI. The Gauchos have four remaining, including the home finales with Hawaii this week (Apr. 6-7).
VAUN LENNON MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UC San Diego sophomore outside hitter Vaun Lennon (Westchester, CA/Loyola HS) delivered a .465 attack (25-5-43) last week in home wins over No. 3 UCLA and No. 15 UCSB, including a career-high .632 (13-1-19) vs. the Gauchos. He added three aces and 15 digs over the seven sets. UCSD has won five straight for the first time since 1990.
Also Nominated: Taylor Crabb (LBSU); Maurice Torres (PEP); Tanner Jansen (USC); Robb Stowell (BYU)