Strong Hitting Continues Around the MPSF

2/18/2013 12:00:00 AM

Feb. 18, 2013

PEPPERDINE (7-4 MPSF, 7-4 Overall) stayed unbeaten in Firestone Fieldhouse with two wins last week, 3-1 over Cal Baptist and 3-2 over top-ranked and first-place BYU. Maurice Torres recorded a double-double in each match, hitting .435 for the week (42-12-69) with 23 total digs (2.56 D/S), and 11 blocks (1.22 B/S). Josh Taylor recorded 20 kills vs. the Cougars on a .406 attack. The Waves stay home this week, hosting UC Santa Barbara Tuesday (Feb. 19) and UCLA Saturday (Feb. 23).

UC IRVINE (9-3 MPSF, 12-3 Overall) extended its win streak to eight by defeating UCSB at home (3-1) and UC San Diego on the road (3-0). The Anteaters hit .493 (41-7-69) in La Jolla, the No. 1 offensive production in an MPSF match this year, and No. 2 overall. Jeremy Dejno combined to hit .404 for the week (26-5-52), while Scott Kevorken was .684 in the middle (14-1-19). Top-ranked UCI hosts Hawaii Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 18-19) to begin the second round of the conference schedule.

LONG BEACH STATE (9-3 MPSF, 11-4 Overall) finished the first-half of the MPSF schedule with two home sweeps over Pacific and Stanford. Taylor Crabb combined for 29 kills, while hitting .397 over the six sets. Connor Olbright totaled 72 assists (12.00 A/S). Tied for second and winners in six of their last seven, the 49ers visit CS Northridge Friday (Feb. 22).

HAWAII (4-6 MPSF, 5-8 Overall) earned its first road win of the year, coming back from a 2-1 set deficit this past Saturday at UCLA. The Warriors hit .512 (25-4-41) through their set four and five comeback, also hitting an errorless .789 (15-0-19) in the set two win. JP Marks had 18 kills (.417) and Sinisa Zarkovic 15 (.407) in the win. UH stays in SoCal for two at No. 1 UCI.

BYU (8-2 MPSF, 9-3 Overall) Taylor Sander recorded 23 kills with a .543 clip, while picking up 10 digs and two aces, to lead the Cougars to their first road win of the year Saturday at USC (3-1). Russ Lavaja was .588 in the middle (11-1-17). Atop the MPSF standings in the loss column, the Cougars host Pacific and Stanford this weekend (Feb. 22-23) live on BYU TV.

STANFORD (6-5 MPSF, 9-5 Overall) fought back after dropping the first set at CS Northridge for a 3-1 win. Brian Cook had 21 kills (.459), Steven Irvin 14 (.533) and Eric Mochalski 10 (.533). The Cardinal hit a season-best .466, sixth-highest in the MPSF this year, guided by a .692 (29-2-39) clip over sets two and three. Stanford heads to BYU Saturday.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (5-5 MPSF, 7-5 Overall) hit a season-high .479 (55-10-94), without an error until its 38th swing, in a 3-1 home win over Pacific. The team hitting clip, guided by Alex Jones' 47 assists in his second career start, ranks third in a conference match this year and fourth in all contests. Brandon Lebrock hit a season-high .586 (19-2-29), John Baker .433 (15-2-30), and Jared Moore .643 (10-1-14). The Matadors host Long Beach State Friday.

UCLA (5-6 MPSF, 9-8 Overall) split at home with Hawaii and hits the road this week in a Pac-12 Network clash at USC Monday (Feb. 18), followed by Pepperdine Saturday (Feb. 23). Gonzalo Quiroga combined for 32 kills in the series, and has still served an MPSF-High 29 aces on the year.

USC (3-6 MPSF, 3-6 Overall) Micah Christenson served a 2013 MPSF-High six aces, along with a 13-dig, 40-assist double-double in a 3-1 home win over Cal Baptist. The week was not done for the sophomore setter. He added another six aces with a match-high 12 digs vs. No. 1 BYU. USC hosts rival UCLA Monday (Feb. 18) on Pac-12 Networks, and UCSB Thursday (Feb. 21).

CAL BAPTIST (3-5 MPSF, 6-7 Overall) dropped a pair of four-set outcomes last week at Pepperdine and USC. Levi Cabral posted 25 kills in Malibu, tied for the second-highest MPSF output this year. He did so while hitting .525 along with three aces and seven digs. The Lancers are next in action against Stanford on Feb. 25, followed by a visit to UC Irvine Feb. 27.

PACIFIC (3-6 MPSF, 5-6 Overall) Javier Caceres popped up 17 digs at Long Beach State, an MPSF-High this year for any three-set match. The Tigers travel to BYU Friday.

UC SAN DIEGO (3-9 MPSF, 5-11 Overall) hit a collective .376 in a 71-minute, 3-0 home win over UC Santa Barbara last Friday, led by Nick Iorfino's .556 (12-2-18). The Tritons step outside the MPSF this week, visiting Hope International Friday.

UC SANTA BARBARA (3-8 MPSF, 5-10 Overall) fell at UC Irvine and UC San Diego last week, and stays on the road at Pepperdine Tuesday and USC Thursday. Matt Marsh had a 19-kill, 14-dig double-double at UCI.

MAURICE TORRES MPSF MOLTEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Pepperdine senior opposite Maurice Torres (Riverside, CA/Orange Lutheran HS) registered two double-doubles last week, in leading wins over #11 Cal Baptist and #1 BYU. Against the Lancers, Torres disposed of 19 kills while hitting .586. In the follow up contest against the top-ranked Cougars, the senior led all hitters with a season-best 23 kills (.325) and 12 digs. He also averaged 1.22 blocks per set through the week. The Waves remained undefeated at home (5-0) and improved to 7-4 on the season. Nominated: Jeremy Dejno (UCI); Russ Lavaja (BYU); Taylor Crabb (LBSU); Carl Eberts (UCSD); JP Marks (UH)...