Jan. 18, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

USC (2-0 MPSF, 4-1 overall) won 3-1 in its MPSF opener at UCLA last Wednesday, before a 3-2 win at defending national champion UC Irvine Friday. Murphy Troy had 18 kills (.324) and the Trojans tallied 18 blocks in the win over the Bruins. Down two sets in the Bren Center, USC hit .455, .256, and .353 in sets three through five en route to the comeback. Tony Ciarelli tallied 18 kills and Troy served four aces. USC hosts Long Beach State and UCSD this week.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (2-0 MPSF, 5-0 overall) swept its first two MPSF matches to stay unbeaten on the year, at home over UC San Diego Wednesday and at Long Beach State Friday. Theo Edwards recorded 17 kills (.395) and Kevin McKniff added 14 (.619) in the Pyramid. CSN hit .366 vs. the 49ers and .320 vs. the Tritons. The Matadors continue conference action at home this week, facing No. 4 UC Irvine Wednesday and No. 10 UCLA Friday.

BYU (2-0 MPSF, 4-1 overall) won all six sets in its two home openers against Pacific over the weekend. Night one saw the Cougars record 18 blocks in front of 4,024 in attendance, the largest men's volleyball crowd in Provo in three years. Robb Stowell had a team-high 13 kills (.333) on night two, while Andrew Stewart added 10 (.389). The Cougars host No. 3 Stanford for two, Friday and Saturday.

STANFORD (2-0 MPSF, 2-0 overall) swept Hawaii twice to begin its season this past Friday and Saturday in Palo Alto. Evan Romero and Brad Lawson delivered 13 kills apiece in the opener, hitting .455 and .545 respectively. The Cardinal carried a .495 team attack that night, and did not cool off very much the next night at .413, led by Romero's 14 kills. Stanford travels to No. 5 BYU for two this weekend.

PEPPERDINE (1-1 MPSF, 1-2 overall) dropped a four-set MPSF opener at UC Irvine, though bounced back with a 3-0 win at UCLA for its first victory of the year. The Wave attack was effective all night in Westwood, hitting .467 as a team, as four starters finished over .400 individually. Brent Schirripa put away 16 kills (.407), while middles Tyler Jaynes and Rodnei Santos combined for 27 errorless swings with a .667 clip. UC San Diego visits on Wednesday.

UC IRVINE (1-1 MPSF, 4-2 overall) placed fifth at UCSB with wins over UC San Diego (3-1) and Long Beach State (3-1). Carson Clark recorded 20 kills (.366) to lead the fifth-place win over the 49ers. UCI served 12 aces in that match. The Anteaters begin conference play this week, hosting Pepperdine Wednesday and USC Friday.

LONG BEACH STATE (1-1 MPSF, 2-3 overall) split two matches to begin the MPSF, a 3-2 comeback win at UCSB and a 3-0 home loss to CS Northridge. Dan Alexander tallied 10 kills (.421) and five service aces in the win, while Jim Baughman had a 19-kill and 10-dig night. Dean Bittner had a match-high 19 kills in the loss. The 49ers visit USC Wednesday and Pepperdine Saturday.

UC SANTA BARBARA (1-1 MPSF, 1-4 overall) split two home matches, falling in five to Long Beach State and defeating UC San Diego in five. Jeff Menzel pounded 25 kills each night for a five-kill per set average. The Gauchos have gone to five sets in four of five matches this year, and continue their homestand with UCLA Wednesday.

HAWAII (0-2 MPSF, 2-3 overall) dropped two at Stanford this past weekend. Josh Walker and Jonas Umlauft each had 11 kills in the second match, while Umlauft also had 11 in the first match. The Warriors remain in Northern California to face Pacific for two, Tuesday and Wednesday.

UCLA (0-2 MPSF, 1-4 overall) had a career week from Jack Polales, combining for 44 kills in seven sets (6.29 K/S), as the Bruins dropped their MPSF openers at home. He delivered a career-high 25 kills vs. top-ranked USC and hit over .400 each night. Garrett Muagututia registered a double-double last Wednesday on 21 kills and 15 digs. The Bruins visit UC Santa Barbara Wednesday and CS Northridge Friday.

UC SAN DIEGO (0-2 MPSF, 1-4 overall) dropped two on the road, 3-0 at CS Northridge and 3-2 at UC Santa Barbara. Jason Spangler recorded 15 kills (.310) against the Gauchos. The Tritons stay on the road, at Pepperdine and USC this week. PACIFIC (0-2 MPSF, 4-2 overall) dropped a pair of 3-0 outcomes at BYU to begin the conference schedule. The Tigers host Hawaii Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 19-20).

CIARELLI AND DUFAULT MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Outside Hitter Tony Ciarelli (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach HS) combined for 32 kills last week, including 18 while hitting .382 in a five-set comeback win at No. 3 UC Irvine. Down two sets on the home floor of the defending national champions, Ciarelli proceeded for 16 kills in 22 swings in the final three sets.

UC Irvine junior outside hitter Jordan DuFault (Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) averaged 5.44 kills, while hitting .426 (49-9-94), in home matches vs. No. 7 Pepperdine and No. 1 USC. He slammed a career-high 30 kills vs. the Trojans, tied for seventh in UCI rally scoring history. DuFault had seven of his 19 kills at a .545 clip in set four vs. the Waves to help end the match.