Pepperdine University
Stanford
Stanford Halts Pepperdine in MPSF Tournament Quarterfinals
4/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
April 21, 2012
#2 Stanford 3, #9 Pepperdine 1 Box Score 
PALO ALTO, Calif. - Three players reached double-digit kill totals, but the #9 Pepperdine men's volleyball team suffered a four set loss to #3 Stanford in the quarterfinals of the MPSF Tournament. The Waves conclude the season with a 14-15 record.
The Cardinal, who will play BYU in the conference tournament semifinals, took the first two frames 25-23, 25-17 before Pepperdine answered with a 25-23 win in the third. Stanford stopped the comeback effort short, however, and took set four 25-17.
Josh Taylor (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou School) led the Waves with 16 kills hitting .323, and six digs. Maurice Torres (Riverside, Calif./Orange Lutheran HS) handed in a well-rounded performance with 11 kills, seven digs and five blocks.
Matt Pollock (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg HS) reached the double-digit plateau with 10 kills earned on a .400 clip. The senior ends his tenure at Pepperdine with a .436 hitting percentage and 448 kills.
Although the Waves hit at a reasonable rate of .231 (52-25-117), the Cardinal trumped that with a blistering .436 (60-14-108) clip. Brad Lawson tagged down a match-best 22 kills hitting .514.
Matt West (Seattle, Wash./Shorewood HS) managed the Waves' offense and dished 47 assists, while Matt Tarantino (Van Nuys, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS) led all defenders with seven blocks.
The Waves held a 17-15 lead in the opening stanza, but a 4-1 Cardinal run tipped the scales back into the home team's favor. Although Pepperdine was able to kill off two set points, Stanford walked away with the 25-23 win.
Stanford controlled the pace of the second frame, hitting .520, while limiting the Waves to a .120 attack percentage, and cruised to a 25-17 triumph in set two.
Pepperdine answered in the third set, coming alive on the offensive front. Scott Rhein (Pleasant View, Tenn./Aaron Academy) and Taylor both nailed down five kills apiece en route to the 25-23 win.
The Waves were unable to counter the Cardinal's .650 hitting percentage in fourth set, and bowed out 25-17.
Earlier this week, five Waves were honored with All-MPSF team honors. Torres was voted to the first team, while West and Pollock earned an honorable mention. West also was placed on the All-MPSF freshman team along with Tarantino and Taylor.
