Semifinal #1:
MPSF Semifinal #1: (1) Pepperdine vs. (4) UC Santa Barbara
Pepperdine def. UC Santa Barbara 3-1 (30-23, 24-30, 30-26, 30-20)
Pepperdine advances to the MPSF Championship match. This will be Pepperdine's 6th MPSF Title match and they are 3-2 in the MPSF Finals.
Notes:
Pepperdine (26-1)
This is Pepperdine's 14th MPSF Tournament appearance (since 1993) and 12th straight. The Waves all-time record in the MPSF Tournament is 17-10. The Waves have won three MPSF Titles (1998, 2002, 2005) Pepperdine is on a 23-match winning streak. This ties the current record from the 1985-1986 seasons. This is the Waves' 12th straight home victory. Pepperdine is 3-0 vs. UC Santa Barbara this season. Pepperdine's 21 conference victories is an MPSF record. The previous record of 20 was done five times, twice by Pepperdine (2002, 2005). Pepperdine is undefeated (26-0) when outhitting their opponent. Pepperdine's 26 wins is the second most in program history. In 2002, the Waves went 29-5. Pepperdine has never faced UC Irvine in the MPSF Tournament.
Paul Carroll (So. opposite) - 2007 MPSF 1st Team Selection Tom Hulse (Sr. middle blocker) - 2007 MPSF Honorable Mention Jonathan Winder (Jr. setter) - 2007 MPSF Player of the Year Marv Dunphy - 2007 MPSF Coach of the Year
UC Santa Barbara (20-12)
This was UCSB's ninth MPSF Tournament appearance (since 1993) and fourth straight. The Gauchos all-time record in the MPSF Tournament is 7-9. UCSB's 14 MPSF victories tied its most ever (14-5 in 1995 and 1996). The Gauchos led the MPSF in hitting percentage (.369), kills (16.26 kpg) and aces (1.84 apg) As of April 23, Evan Patak leads the nation in kills (5.76 kpg), aces (.973 apg), and points (7.09 ppg). UCSB has lost its last two MPSF semifinal matches in Malibu (Long Beach State, 2005)
Evan Patak (Sr. opposite) - 2007 MPSF 1st Team Selection Theo Brunner (Jr. middle blocker) - 2007 MPSF 1st Team Selection Bart Kowalski (Sr. setter) - 2007 MPSF Honorable Mention
Semifinal #2:
MPSF Semifinal #2: (2) BYU vs. (3) UC Irvine
UC Irvine def. BYU 3-2 (30-19, 28-30, 27-30, 30-27, 15-10)
Notes:
BYU (23-6)
This was BYU's 14th MPSF Tournament appearance (since 1993) and 11th straight. The Cougars all-time record in the MPSF Tournament is 16-11. The Cougars have won three MPSF Titles (1999, 2003, 2004) As of April 23, Yamil Perez (Fr. Setter) leads the nation in assists (13.70 apg). BYU is 0-6 this season in matches that the Cougars hit less than .300. BYU is 1-2 vs. UC Irvine this season. The Cougars have recorded 20-win seasons in eight of the last nine years. BYU is 0-3 in five game matches this season. (vs. UCI at home on Feb. 3, at Pepperdine on Feb. 15, in the MPSF Semifinals on Apr. 26)
Yosleyder Cala (So. outside hitter) - 2007 MPSF 1st Team Selection Russell Holmes (Jr. middle blocker) - 2007 MPSF 2nd Team Selection Ivan Perez (Jr. outside hitter) - 2007 MPSF 2nd Team Selection Yamil Perez (Fr. setter) - 2007 MPSF Newcomer of the Year, MPSF Honorable Mention Robby Stowell (Fr. opposite) - 2007 MPSF Honorable Mention
UC Irvine (26-5)
This is UCI's 6th MPSF Tournament appearance (since 1993) and 2nd straight. The Anteaters all-time record in the MPSF Tournament is 3-5. UCI's 26 wins are the second most in program history behind last year's 27 wins. UCI's 17 league victories were the second most in program history behind last year's 20-2 MPSF season. UCI is 2-1 vs. BYU this season. UCI is the only team this season to beat BYU on their home court (Smith Fieldhouse). This was Cole Reinholm's first match since Apr. 6 at UCLA. UCI's last seven victories over BYU have been in five-games. UCI is making its first trip to the MPSF Championship match.
Brent Asuka (So. libero) - 2007 MPSF 3rd Team Selection Aaron Harrell (Jr. middle blocker) - 2007 MPSF 3rd Team Selection Jayson Jablonsky (Sr. outside hitter) - 2007 MPSF 2nd Team Selection David Smith (Sr. middle blocker) - 2007 MPSF 1st Team Selection Brian Thornton (Sr. setter) - 2007 MPSF 3rd Team Selection Matt Webber (Sr. opposite) - 2007 MPSF 2nd Team Selection
