Sander Breaks BYU Mark; West Sets Pep Into 2nd
March 24, 2014
MPSF Volleyball Release 12
BYU (16-2 MPSF/16-4 Overall) racked up yet another straight-set home victory, this time over Cal Baptist last Saturday, and became the first team to clinch a spot in the MPSF Quarterfinals. Taylor Sander broke the all-time Cougar rally-scoring kill record with a total of 1,563, passing Robb Stowell's mark. The Cougars have not only won their last 21 home matches, but have not dropped a set in the Fieldhouse since January 24, a span of 20 straight (27-2 in overall home sets). Looking to secure a quarterfinal home court, the final two regular season home matches are this week, against UCSB and UCLA. BYU owns tiebreakers over Pepperdine (5-3 head-to-head sets), as well as Stanford, UCI, and USC (all 2-0 head-to-head matches).
PEPPERDINE (14-5 MPSF/14-5 Overall) has reached its longest win streak since early in the 2012 season with five straight, and has moved into second-place with five to play. Matt West set the Waves to a pair of 3-0 home wins last week, beginning with 42 assists (14 A/S) and 11 digs in snapping Long Beach State's eight-match win streak. West proceeded with 23 assists and three aces against CS Northridge. The Waves travel to Stanford and Pacific this week, where two wins seal an MPSF Quarterfinal bid. Pepperdine owns tiebreakers over Long Beach St (5-3 head-to-head sets) and UCLA (2-0 head-to-head matches).
USC (13-8 MPSF/14-8 Overall) Tanner Jansen turned in a career-weekend in two important home wins to jump to fifth in the standings, and within one-half match of the top-four with three to play in the conference. Jansen had a career-high 26 kills at .426 in a 3-0 outcome over Long Beach State, following a .500 clip (13-2-22) in a straight-set win over Northridge. The Trojans hold tiebreakers over Hawaii and Long Beach State (2-0 head-to-head matches).
HAWAII (11-9 MPSF/13-10 Overall) has four matches remaining in the regular season, fighting for a top-eight finish for postseason entry. The home schedule concludes April 4 & 5 against BYU, before the final two on the road at Pepperdine, April 11 & 12. UH holds tiebreakers over UCLA and Northridge (2-0 head-to-head matches). Taylor Averill hit .600 (21-3-30) in the series sweep at Pacific, along with a two-match high total nine blocks (1.50 B/S).
LONG BEACH STATE (12-6 MPSF/15-6 Overall) had its eight-match win streak snapped at Pepperdine last Thursday, and heads to UC San Diego and UC Irvine this week. To date, the 49ers hold tiebreakers over Stanford (2-0 head-to-head matches) and Hawaii (5-3 head-to-head sets).
CAL BAPTIST (2-16 MPSF/4-18 Overall) managed to out-block BYU on the road, the nation's second-best blocking team, 8-6. Johannes Brink hit .571 with 18 kills. UCSB and UCLA visit this week.
STANFORD (11-7 MPSF/14-7 Overall) Brian Cook hit .400 (34-8-65) over a two-match series win over Hawaii two weekends ago. In match two, the Cardinal earned their first five-set win of the season in six tries, as Cook delivered a double-double on 21 kills (.444) and 13 digs. Tied for sixth and one back from the top-four, Stanford hosts USC and Pepperdine this week, each televised on Pac-12 Networks. Stanford thus far has tiebreakers over CSN and Hawaii (2-0 head-to-head matches), and UCSB (5-3 head-to-head sets).
UC SANTA BARBARA (12-6 MPSF/13-6 Overall) visits Cal Baptist and BYU this week. The Gauchos fought back from a two-set hole at home against USC on Mar. 12 to win 3-2. Jonah Seif set five players to double-figure kills, on 55 assists and a .341 team offense. He shared a match-high 12 digs for the double-double, to go along with three blocks and two aces. Evan Licht had 15 kills, seven digs, and three aces. UCSB holds a tiebreaker over Hawaii (2-0 head-to-head matches).
UC IRVINE (11-8 MPSF/14-9 Overall) earned a sweep at Cal Baptist on Mar. 13. Connor Hughes tallied 16 kills with a .500 clip, while the Anteaters hit .358 overall. Five matches remain for the Anteaters, beginning Mar. 26 at home against CS Northridge. UCI has clinched two-way tiebreakers over Hawaii and UCSB (2-0 head-to-head matches), Pepperdine (4-3 head-to-head sets), and USC (+5 head-to-head points).
CS NORTHRIDGE (6-12 MPSF/7-14 Overall) travels to UC Irvine and UC San Diego this week. Sam Holt comes off an 11-kill match at Pepperdine, hitting .321.
UC SAN DIEGO (1-18 MPSF/2-19 Overall) hosts Long Beach and Northridge this week. Garrett Dempsey dished 50 assists in leading a .345 team attack, and picked up 11 digs in the Tritons' first MPSF win of the year over Cal Baptist on Mar. 13.
UCLA (11-7 MPSF/14-8 Overall) visits Cal Baptist and BYU, Mar. 27 & 29. The Bruins have six to play, tied for sixth and one match from the top-four. UCLA holds tiebreakers over Stanford and UC Irvine (2-0 head-to head MPSF matches), USC (4-3 head-to-head sets) and UCSB (+2 head-to-head points).
PACIFIC (1-17 MPSF/2-19 Overall) Tommy Carmody averaged team-highs of 3.17 kills (.353) and 1.17 blocks per set in the Hawaii series. The Tigers host USC and Pepperdine this week.