Feb. 15, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (8-2 MPSF, 11-2 overall) won all six sets to stay atop the MPSF, 3-0 at home over Long Beach State and at UC San Diego. The Matadors hit .500 in each of the first two sets vs. the 49ers, as Tanner Nua led with 13 kills (.476) and a pair of aces. Jacek Ratajczak (.524) and Kevin McKniff (.688) had 12 kills each at UCSD. Top-ranked CSUN continues its longest road stretch of the year, visiting UC Irvine and UCLA this week.

STANFORD (6-3 MPSF, 7-3 overall) made it four straight with wins over UCLA (3-0) and UC Irvine (3-1). Brad Lawson tallied 22 kills (.372) vs. UCI and 15 (.400) vs. UCLA. Evan Romero served four straight aces to begin the fourth set against UCI and had a 17-kill match. Garrett Werner hit .526 (12-2-19) with seven blocks in that win. The Cardinal travels to Pepperdine and USC this weekend, one-half match ahead of both entering the week.

PEPPERDINE (5-3 MPSF, 5-4 overall) stayed hot with another impressive outing and fourth straight win, 3-0 at No. 2 USC last Friday. Kasey Crider set the Waves to a .327 evening, dishing 46 assists (15.33 A/S) and picking up nine digs. Maurice Torres delivered 16 kills (5.33 K/S) and Tyler Jaynes hit .538 in the middle (8-1-13). J.D.Schleppenbach added 12 kills (.409). The Waves host Pacific Wednesday (Feb. 17) and Stanford Friday (Feb. 19).

UC SANTA BARBARA (6-4 MPSF, 6-7 overall) received a career-night from Jeff Menzel on 34 kills (.294) and 11 digs to lead a comeback win at No. 6 Long Beach State last Friday. He had seven kills in set five. Saturday, Menzel's 33 kills (.314) sparked a 3-2 win at UCSD. Jake Rosener added 14 kills (.455) and 13 digs. The Gauchos, who have gone to a fifth-set in nine of 13 matches, host UCLA Wednesday (Feb. 17) in this week's only match.

UCLA (6-4 MPSF, 7-6 overall) split a pair of 3-0 outcomes in Northern California, with a loss at Stanford and a win at Pacific. Kevin Ker set three Bruins' to at least .333 hitting in Stockton, while delivering three aces. Jeremy Casebeer hit .625 (12-2-16) and Garrett Muagututia added 14 kills (.333) in the win. The Bruins travel to UCSB and host No. 1 CSUN this week, posting wins over each team earlier in the year.

UC IRVINE (3-7 MPSF, 7-8 overall) received a 20-kill (.410) and three-ace effort from Carson Clark in a 3-1 win at Pacific. Cory Yoder delivered another error-free evening with a .632 clip (12-0-19), along with 11 digs. Clark had 28 kills in the loss at Stanford, one shy of his career-high. Jordan DuFault tallied 15 kills and 13 digs. UCI has one match this week, hosting top-ranked CS Northridge Wednesday (Feb. 17).

LONG BEACH STATE (4-4 MPSF, 5-6 overall) lost at No. 1 CS Northridge and at home to No. 10 UC Santa Barbara. Dean Bittner slammed a 2010 MPSF-High 38 kills (.320) against the Gauchos, adding five blocks. He also had a 15-kill (.346) outing against the Matadors. In their lone match this week, the 49ers host Cal Baptist Thursday.

USC (5-3 MPSF, 7-4 overall) was led by Murphy Troy's 16 kills in the home loss to Pepperdine. Austin Zahn finished with a .556 hitting clip (12-2-18). In a three-way tie for third-place, the Trojans host Pacific Friday and Stanford Saturday (Feb. 19-20).

UC SAN DIEGO (1-7 MPSF, 4-9 overall) came up short at home to No. 1 Northridge and No. 10 UCSB. Jason Spangler had 23 kills (.365) and Calvin Ross had nine blocks against the Gauchos. Frank Fritsch recorded a match-high 17 kills vs. the Matadors. The Tritons host BYU for two, Friday and Saturday.

PACIFIC (0-9 MPSF, 6-9 overall) fell at home to UC Irvine and UCLA. Taylor Hughes put away 15 kills and Nikola Vukicevic had eight blocks vs. the Bruins. Hughes had 20 kills (.368) vs. the Anteaters. The Tigers visit Pepperdine and USC this week.

HAWAII (4-4 MPSF, 6-5 overall) split a pair of 3-0 exhibition home decisions this past weekend against Canadian powerhouse Alberta. Jonas Umlauft recorded 22 kills (.500) and Josh Walker added 15 (.357) with three aces in the win. Nejc Zemljak dished 50 assists (16.67 A/S) along with four aces. The Warriors stay outside of the conference this week, as Hope International visits for two.

BYU (5-3 MPSF, 7-4 overall) was off this past week, and continues its eight-match road swing at UC San Diego for two. The third-place Cougars are 2-2 on their lengthy road trip, splitting a pair at UCLA and UC Irvine.

MENZEL AND MCKNIFF MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
UC Santa Barbara junior outside hitter Jeff Menzel (Santa Barbara, CA/San Marcos HS) totaled 67 kills in 10 sets (6.70 K/S) in leading a pair of five-set road wins at No. 6 Long Beach State and No. 13 UC San Diego. In the Pyramid, he slammed a career-high 34 kills, including seven in the fifth set, while adding 11 digs for the double-double. In RIMAC, Menzel added 33 kills, nine digs, and five blocks. He hit .304 for the week (67-25-138).

CS Northridge senior middle blocker Kevin McKniff (Tucson, AZ/Sabino HS) hit .741 with just one error (21-1-27) over a pair of 3-0 wins against No. 6 Long Beach State and No. 13 UC San Diego. He added three aces (0.50 A/S) and eight blocks (1.33 B/S) for the week. McKniff becomes the first repeat winner of this award in 2010. Also Nominated: Kasey Crider (PEP), Evan Romero (STAN)