BYU, not UH, likely to receive at-large berth

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

PROVO, Utah — Sometimes fairness is not fair.

While the head coaches of the teams which played in last night's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship match believe runner-up Hawai'i deserves the at-large berth in this week's final four men's volleyball tournament, both acknowledge that Brigham Young is the selection committee's favorite.

UH players Dejan Miladinovic, left, Vernon Podlewski, center, and Kyle Denitz show their disappointment after the Warriors fell to UCLA last night. Kevin Lee • Special to The Honolulu Advertiser

"I think Hawai'i beat BYU, so I think Hawai'i should get the at-large berth," said UCLA coach Al Scates, whose team received the MPSF's automatic berth in the final four. "But do I think (UH) will get the at-large berth? I don't even know the name of the person in the Midwest or East who votes for this. I don't know where the committee is coming from."

It is widely believed that the MPSF is the strongest conference, and the best men's teams are located west of the Rocky Mountains. The top eight teams in the USA Today/AVCA poll are from the MPSF; No. 9 Lewis (of Illinois) lost in the Midwest semifinals.

The MPSF tournament semifinals often are regarded as superior to the NCAA's final four. "No question," Scates said.

In 1972, Scates said, three of the final four teams were from the West. The East complained and in 1973, when Scates was chairman of the NCAA men's volleyball committee, it was decided that the three regions would be represented in the final four.

"We would have killed the programs out there (in the East) if we took only the best teams," Scates said. "This is good for volleyball, but not necessarily good for the West. But it's the righteous thing to do."

He said that in nearly 30 years, the number of men's teams in the East has grown from five to more than 20.

But the decision also means that either the nation's top-ranked team or the second-best team in the MPSF tournament will be left out.

"I think we're really deserving," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "Do I think we're one of the four best teams in the country? I'd say, 'Absolutely, we are.' We'll just wait and see. I'm sure the BYU folks think they have a shot, too."

"It's always shaky when it comes to a committee," UH middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic said. "Personally, I don't think we'll get the berth."

Said UH outside hitter Costas Theocharidis: "We're going home. I think the at-large berth is too far away for us."