BYU Clinches MPSF Tournament No. 1 Seed

3/31/2014 12:00:00 AM

March 31, 2014

BYU (18-2 MPSF/18-4 Overall) locked up this year's MPSF Championship Tournament's No. 1 seed On March 29, beating last year's Cougar team by all of 24 hours in becoming the quickest all-time to secure it. Taylor Sander combined for 50 kills (5.56 K/S) with a .500 hitting percentage in his final two matches in Provo, guiding 3-2 and 3-1 wins over UCSB (Mar. 28) and UCLA (Mar. 29), respectively. Two weekends still remain in the regular season, as BYU hits the road to face Hawaii (Apr. 4 & 5), followed by UCSB (Apr. 10) and UCLA (Apr. 12). The Cougars will then host the "1-8" MPSF Quarterfinal on Apr. 19, where a win also would keep them in Provo for the semifinals (Apr. 24) and championship (Apr. 26).

STANFORD (13-7 MPSF/16-7 Overall) completed a 7-0 month of March with wins over USC in four and Pepperdine in three, and owns the longest current win streak in the conference. The outcomes also marked the first time since 1996 the Cardinal swept the season series over both teams. Brian Cook hit .379 (31-9-58) for the week, averaging 4.43 kills per set. Tied for third with four to play, Pacific and Cal Baptist visit this week, followed by a trip to UC Irvine and UC San Diego next week. Stanford has tiebreakers over Hawaii, Pepperdine, USC (all 2-0 head-to-head matches), and UCSB (5-3 head-to-head sets).

UC IRVINE (13-8 MPSF/16-9 Overall) won two at home last week, defeating CS Northridge in four and Long Beach State in three. Libero Michael Brinkley accumulated 32 digs for the week (4.57 D/S), as the Anteaters held their opponents to .182 and .210 hitting. The outcome over the 49ers also ensures winning the two-way tiebreaker should one be needed (+ 2 head-to-head points). UCI also has 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).

LONG BEACH STATE (13-7 MPSF/16-7 Overall) won in three at UC San Diego, smashing the 2014 MPSF-High in team hitting percentage with a .582 clip (42-3-67), also a school rally-scoring era record. The overall offense was also the best in the conference since early in the 2011 season. Setter Connor Olbright went for a double-double in that match (32A/11D) and at UCI (30A/12D). Ian Satterfield was 11 for an errorless 14 (.786) and Taylor Crabb 13 for an errorless 24 (.542) at UCSD. The 49ers hold tiebreakers over Stanford (2-0 head-to-head matches) and Hawaii (5-3 head-to-head sets).

UC SANTA BARBARA (13-7 MPSF/14-7 Overall) became the first team to take BYU to five in Provo, and snapped a 21-set win streak by the Cougars on their home floor. The Gauchos also won in three at Cal Baptist last week, as Weston Nielsen hit .647 (12-1-17) with eight digs. UCSB, tied for third, holds a tiebreaker over Hawaii (2-0 head-to-head matches).

PEPPERDINE (15-6 MPSF/15-6 Overall) bounced back with a four-set decision at Pacific this past Saturday, as Josh Taylor put away a match-high 17 kills. JJ Mosolf collected career-highs of 15 kills and seven digs. The Waves control their own path to the No. 2 seed, hosting USC Saturday (Apr. 5), followed by Hawaii for two next week. Pepperdine owns tiebreakers over Long Beach State (5-3 head-to-head sets) and UCLA (2-0 head-to-head matches).

USC (14-9 MPSF/15-9 Overall) won three straight sets at Pacific after dropping the first, as Andy Benesh hit .571 (10-2-14). The Trojans wrap up the regular season this week, hosting Concordia and visiting Pepperdine. Still fighting for a postseason bid and even a quarterfinal home court, USC holds tiebreakers over Hawaii and Long Beach State (2-0 head-to-head matches).

UCLA (12-8 MPSF/15-9 Overall) won 3-1 at Cal Baptist last Thursday, as the Bruins served six of their 12 aces in the fourth set. Robart Page came off the bench to hit .565 with 14 kills. 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).

CS NORTHRIDGE (7-13 MPSF/8-15 Overall) picked up a conference win at UC San Diego this past Saturday, erasing a 2-1 set deficit. Greg Faulkner hit .552 (18-2-29) with seven blocks, while Vaughn Wellenreiter hit .600 (10-1-15) and served three aces and had five blocks. The Matadors have four matches left, beginning at home this week with UCLA and UCSB.

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 Friday and Saturday 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).

CAL BAPTIST (2-18 MPSF/4-20 Overall) Johannes Brink had a match-high 23 kills while hitting .425 in the home finale against UCLA last Thursday. The Lancers won a set over a ranked opponent for the first time since Feb. 22.

UC SAN DIEGO (1-20 MPSF/2-21 Overall) Tanner Howard picked up a team season-high 19 digs against CS Northridge. The Tritons have four matches remaining, beginning at home with UC Irvine and UC Merced this week.

PACIFIC (1-19 MPSF/2-21 Overall) has four to play beginning at Stanford Thursday, and Cal Baptist in the home finale Saturday (Apr. 5). Thomas Hodges had 17 kills and Tommy Carmody seven blocks in the Pepperdine match last week.