March 3, 2008

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BYU (9-1 MPSF/14-1 overall) took over sole possession of first-place with a pair of home sweeps over Pacific last weekend. Senior Ivan Perez tallied 14 kills (.357) in the first match and 15 in the second (.500). The Cougars totaled 23.5 blocks over the two wins and hit over .400 combined. Fourth-place Pepperdine visits Provo this weekend (Mar. 7-8) for two crucial matches.

PEPPERDINE earned a 3-1 victory at No. 8 USC Friday, after losing the first set, in the first of a five-match road stretch. Pepperdine held the hitting (.424-.228) and blocking advantages (17.5-10). The Waves are now 3-0 with junior Paul Carroll back in the lineup, who pounded 26 kills (.488) in Los Angeles. He also chipped in eight digs and seven blocks. This weekend features a huge two-match showdown at first-place BYU. The Waves (8-5 MPSF/overall) won both meetings last year in Malibu (3-2, 3-0).

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE remains the hottest team in the MPSF with its seventh and eighth straight wins last weekend, the longest streak since 2001. Friday, the Matadors took a five-set thriller at No. 2 Long Beach State, as they hit .365 for the night. Junior Eric Vance had a team-high 22 kills (.326) along with nine digs and four blocks. Freshman Cody Loe had 18 kills, without an error, in 23 swings (.783). Senior Isaac Kneubuhl added 20 kills (.417). CSUN topped UC San Diego Saturday, 3-1, as sophomore Kevin McKniff had 18 kills with a .708 clip. Loe added seven blocks. UCSB and USC visit the Matadome (Mar. 5-7).

STANFORD held off Hawaii last Wednesday night at home, 3-2 (16-14 game 5), after dropping the first set. Sophomore Evan Romero put away 29 kills (.302). Senior Matt Ceran tallied a double-double on 21 kills (.474) and 13 digs. The Cardinal had an easier time the following night, 3-0, as Romero led four players in double-digit kills with 20 (.692). With a jump to fifth place in this week's standings, Stanford heads to Long Beach State and UC San Diego this weekend (Mar. 7-8).

LONG BEACH STATE sophomore Dean Bittner recorded a career-high 29 kills (.333) in a 3-2 loss at home to No. 4 CS Northridge Friday. Sophomore Dan Alexander totaled 11 blocks that night. Bittner came back Saturday and slammed 24 kills (.360) in a tight 3-2 win over UC Santa Barbara. Senior Paul Lotman added 20 kills and four aces in the win. The homestand continues as Pacific and Stanford visit this week.

UC SAN DIEGO picked up its first-ever 3-0 sweep over an MPSF opponent, in the 16-year history of the conference, at home Friday against UCSB. Just the second win over the Gauchos in 34 meetings all-time, the Tritons turned in a .420 hitting attack, led by sophomore Frank Fritsch's 17 kills (.520). Pacific and Stanford visit RIMAC Arena Friday and Saturday (Mar. 7-8).

UC IRVINE split at home with No. 10 Ohio State, winning in three Friday and losing in five Saturday. The 30-13 game three win Friday was the largest margin of victory for any MPSF team in '08. Junior Jon Steller (.360) and freshman Cory Yoder (.545) each had 14 kills that night, while Steller tied the all-time UCI match record with six aces. Freshman Jordan DuFault had a career-high 21 kills in the loss. The Anteaters host UCLA as conference action continues Friday (Mar. 7).

USC dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 5 Pepperdine Friday in the Galen Center. The Trojans had four players in double-digit kills, led by senior Juan Figueroa with 20. Freshman Murphy Troy added 15 kills and nine digs. USC hosts Lewis Wed. (Mar. 5).

HAWAII junior Jim Clar turned in a career performance last Wednesday with 29 kills (.434) and 13 digs in a 3-2 loss at No. 9 Stanford. Sophomore libero Ric Cervantes also had a career-high 23 digs. Freshman Josh Walker had 17 of the Warriors' 36 kills the following night in a 3-0 defeat. Loyola-Chicago travels to Honolulu, Wednesday and Friday (Mar. 5-7).

UC SANTA BARBARA senior Theo Brunner had 14 kills (.435) in a 3-0 loss at UC San Diego and 26 more (.476) in a 3-2 loss at No. 2 Long Beach State. The Gauchos visit CS Northridge Wednesday (Mar. 5).

UCLA was defeated twice by No. 14 Ball State in Muncie this past weekend, 3-1 and 3-0. Junior Garrett Muagututia led all players on night one with 21 kills along with five blocks. The Bruins host Lewis and UC Santa Cruz midweek, then visit UC Irvine.

PACIFIC fell at conference-leading BYU twice in three games. Senior Pekka Seppanen combined for 22 kills on the trip. The Tigers travel to Long Beach State and UC San Diego this weekend (Mar. 7-8).

LOE AND ROMERO MPSF MOLTEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Woodland, Calif. - Cal State Northridge freshman Cody Loe (Chatsworth, CA/Chatsworth HS) totaled 31 kills with a solid .636 attack in a pair of wins over No. 2 Long Beach State and UC San Diego last week. He had 18 kills without an error in 23 swings vs. the 49ers. Loe also combined for three aces and 12 blocks in the two wins......Stanford sophomore Evan Romero (Miami Lakes, FL/ Pace HS) combined for 57 kills in 10 games (5.7 K/G) in three wins over Hawaii (twice) and UC Santa Cruz. He hit at a .421 hitting attack during the week. The Cardinal jumped to fifth in this week's standings.