Posted on: Friday, May 7, 2004
Top-ranked Cougars oust Lewis
| • | Top-ranked Cougars oust Lewis |
| • | Sheriff patrons hear rare live music |
| • | Game statistics |
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Even on an off-night, the top-ranked Brigham Young men's volleyball team proved it can still pull out victories.
Jonathan Alleman and Fernando Pessoa each registered 12 kills as Brigham Young defeated defending NCAA champion Lewis, 30-21, 30-28, 30-21, in the NCAA men's volleyball semifinals last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I don't think we played our best tonight," BYU coach Tom Peterson said. "You can't let a team go on a run. You have to stop the bleeding. There were too many runs, too many stretches for the other team."
A crowd of 2,675 watched the Cougars (28-4) sweep the Flyers (19-14) in a rematch of last year's championship match.
BYU will play Long Beach State for the NCAA title tomorrow at 4 p.m. The Cougars have won all three matches against the 49ers this season.
"I love playing against Long Beach," Alleman said. "A few years ago, we started a pretty good rivalry. It's continued pretty well."
Joe Hillman added 11 kills for BYU. Lewis' Jeff Soler put down 12 kills and Fabiano Barreto added 11 kills.
The Cougars pounced on Lewis in Game 1. BYU sprinted to a 9-3 lead and took advantage of an ineffective Flyers' attack.
Lewis closed to 9-6, but could not overtake BYU. The Flyers finished hitting .069, compared to the Cougars' .286.
"We had some opening game jitters," Lewis coach Dave Deuser said. "In Game 1, they were painting the lines and serving really aggressively, free of fear."
In Game 2, Lewis rallied from a 7-2 deficit and took a 21-20 lead on a kill by Barreto. The score was tied seven times and the lead changed four times before Lewis tied the score at 28 on a kill by Soler.
However, BYU closed the game with an Alleman kill and a double block by Victor Batista and Alleman.
Alleman credited setter Carlos Moreno for getting BYU on track. Moreno finished with a match-high 46 assists.
"Carlos does a really good job of spreading the ball around," Alleman said. "A lot of times tonight we only had one blocker against us."
In Game 3, a kill by BYU's Michael Burke broke a 16-all tie and started a 8-1 surge that gave the Cougars a commanding 24-17 lead.
"Obviously we'd like to still be alive and play another game," Deuser said. "But we came through a really tough season and overcame a lot. I'm really proud of our guys with how they didn't quit."
This season, Lewis played without All-America outside hitter Gustavo Meyer and setter Jose Martins after questions surrounding their eligibility. Following an internal investigation, the school admitted Meyer played while ineligible. The school is awaiting a decision by the NCAA on its 2003 championship.
In last season's title match, Lewis defeated BYU, 42-44, 30-27, 30-21, 23-30, 15-12.
"That was a hard loss for me last year, and it was a hard loss for these guys," BYU's Peterson said. "You don't want that feeling anymore."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
