Posted on: Tuesday, April 19, 2005

MPSF's postseason format questioned

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

It is too bad the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation does not have a gift-exchange program.

For winning the regular-season title in college volleyball's best conference, Pepperdine received a 12-day hiatus in the MPSF playoffs.

"That's a long time between matches," Hawai'i coach Mike Wilton said. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't like that."

UCLA coach Al Scates said: "It's a serious disadvantage not to play for two weeks."

In previous seasons, eight of the 12 MPSF teams qualified for the single-elimination playoffs and each competed in the first round.

The MPSF decided to change the format this season, with the regular-season champion earning an opening-round bye and the host's role for the semifinals and championship match. The seventh and eighth seeds meet in a play-in match tomorrow, with the quarterfinals set for Saturday.

The new format was designed to give the No. 1 seed more time to market the final two rounds. The drawback is the Waves, whose regular season ended last Friday, will have an extended break.

Scates, who did not vote for the format change, said, "We'll see how they do after two weeks."

Here's a look at the playoffs:

1. Pepperdine Waves

MPSF record: 20-2.

Head coach: Marv Dunphy.

Next: Hosts semifinal match April 27.

Outlook: Since the MPSF went to a round-robin format in 2002, the Waves are 73-15 (.830) in conference matches. Despite significant lineup changes — middle blocker John Parfitt moved to outside hitter and setter John Mayer shifted to opposite hitter — the Waves won their third regular-season title in four years. The secret? "If I absolutely knew," Dunphy said to a reporter, "I wouldn't tell you or anybody else."

The Waves appear to rely on a towering block, All-America outside hitter Sean Rooney's powerful swing, craftiness — at 5-11, Mayer uses his quick vertical jump to hit past blocks — and accurate passing. Dunphy said his players also are refreshed by late-morning practices. "I actually enjoy that time," Dunphy said. "If you practice later, you're dragging the whole day with you."

2. UCLA Bruins

MPSF record: 18-4.

Head coach: Al Scates.

Next: Hosts play-in winner Saturday.

Outlook: Opponents have long been envious of UCLA's depth and recruiting reach. Now the Bruins are receiving a boost from the school's basketball team. Matt McKinney, a basketball forward, joined the team last month and has emerged as an effective opposite hitter, leading the Bruins with 3.82 kills per game. "He's doing great," Scates said, noting McKinney was the nation's top volleyball prospect as a high school senior two years ago.

The Bruins also are benefiting from a return to extensive weight training and intense practices. Scates eased up on the workload when the NCAA switched to the rally-scoring format in 2001. "I was emphasizing technique," he said. "I realized I was making it too easy for them. We're preparing them the old way to play a 3-hour match. We're in better shape."

3. Brigham Young Cougars

MPSF record: 15-7.

Head coach: Tom Peterson.

Next: Hosts UC Santa Barbara Saturday.

Outlook: UC Santa Barbara coach Ken Preston lamented the coming match in Smith Field House. "They have loud fans," Preston said. "They're not good Mormons sitting on their hands. They're vicious. It's the best home-court advantage in the league."

Fortunately for the Gauchos, BYU's spring semester ends Thursday and, coupled with higher ticket prices, attendance might be down. Even without their usual support, the Cougars are an imposing and versatile challenge, finding success with different lineups. Victor Batista (3.60 kills per game) can play in the middle or left side. Casey Patterson or Taylor Evans will open at opposite hitter. The constant is setter Rob Neilson, who stepped in after Carlos Moreno, last year's national Player of the Year, was ruled ineligible. "He's very athletic," Peterson said of Neilson, "and a very good player."

4. Hawai'i Warriors

MPSF record: 15-7.

Head coach: Mike Wilton.

Next: Hosts Long Beach State Saturday.

Outlook: To prepare for The Beach, the Warriors hit the beach yesterday, spending the afternoon bodysurfing at Sandy's. The Warriors needed a breather after a breathless run of three victories to clinch a host's berth.

The resurgence is traced to a set lineup (Matt Carere seized the job as primary passer), Pedro Azenha's booming serves (10 aces in the two-match sweep of Pacific) and quiet confidence. Three times in the past two weeks, Wilton recited to his players a quote from religious leader Stephen L. Richards: "Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other."

"In the last three matches," Wilton said, "we're dispelling doubts about ourselves. We're starting to think, 'Hey, we're a good team.' "

5. Long Beach State 49ers

MPSF record: 14-8.

Head coach: Alan Knipe.

Next: Saturday at Hawai'i.

Outlook: In the past month, the 49ers are the league's most successful team, winning 11 of 13 matches. The surge is traced to Tyler Hildebrand, the MPSF's best setter, and outside hitter Robert Tarr. Last season, Tarr was expected to be a top contributor. But he suffered an early-season injury and, by the time he was healthy, the 49ers' lineup was set. This season, Tarr has been the featured attacker, averaging 4.96 kills per game.

"He's carried a big load for us, and he's still hitting a good percentage (.348)," Knipe said.

Using his height and jumping ability, 6-6 Tarr can launch shots near the 3-meter line that still clear the block. "He does jump well," Knipe said.

6. UC Santa Barbara GAUCHOS

MPSF record: 13-9.

Head coach: Ken Preston.

Next: Saturday at BYU.

Outlook: The Gauchos are admittedly concerned about Provo's thin air, in which volleyballs don't die, they just float away. "Getting there isn't the problem," Preston said, "it's breathing when you get there and serving the ball."

The Gauchos counter with their own force of nature — Evan Patak, a 6-8, 260-pound opposite hitter. Patak, who leads the nation with 5.65 kills per game, is a busy big body, receiving 34 percent of the Gauchos' sets. His no-spin shots, traveling more than 65 mph, are difficult to dig. The only drawback is Patak has never played in Provo.

7. Cal State Northridge Matadors

MPSF record: 10-12.

Head coach: Jeff Campbell.

Next: Hosts Stanford tomorrow.

Outlook: The Matadors have not been able to sidestep adversity. Their best attacker, opposite Dan Rhodes, has not played the past two months after medical tests showed he had a broken bone in his right (swinging) hand. Outside hitter Cary Hanson is finally healthy after recovering from a strained right elbow. Even libero Sebastian Pedraza, who is seeking U.S. citizenship, missed a match to meet with immigration officials. But now the Matadors have settled on a lineup, with Nils Nielsen succeeding Rhodes as the opposite hitter and leading attacker (3.85 kills per game). "He's definitely our go-to hitter," said Campbell, noting the Matadors also will have to rely on the basics. "When we've served well, we've won a lot of matches. When we've passed well, we've done well. Serving and passing will be important keys."

8. Stanford Cardinal

MPSF record: 10-12.

Head coach: Don Shaw.

Next: Tomorrow at CSNU.

Outlook: Shaw yesterday spent as much time working on travel arrangements (the team departs the Bay Area the morning of the match) as focusing on the Cardinal's serving and passing. "We've had to do it with mirrors," Shaw said, noting 6-7 Chris Ahlfeldt is the tallest player on the active roster. "We need great passing to compete."

For the most part, primary passers David Vogel and Brian Lindberg (the team's only libero) have connected with setter Kevin Hansen.

"We don't have big power hitters to throw the ball up to and bail us out," Shaw said. "We have to spread out the offense. Hansen has done a good job of isolating (the outside attackers) and giving them a chance to make plays."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.