The push for the postseason is in full force throughout every conference.
No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 Hawai’i both play in critical conference matches as they try to lock-up the final spot in the MPSF Tournament. In addition, No. 3 Pepperdine has a chance clinch a conference tournament home match as it plays host to No. 8 USC.
The road to the MPSF Tournament championship will go through BYU all thanks to All-American outside attacker Taylor Sander.
Sander had a match-high 23 kills as No. 2 BYU defeated No. 9 UCLA 22-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-21 on Saturday in Provo, Utah, to clinch the No. 1 seed for the upcoming MPSF Tournament and a share of the conference regular season title.
Multiple conference titles can be clinched tonight.
No. 2 BYU will go for its second consecutive MPSF regular season title as it plays host to conference rival No. 9 UCLA. In addition out in the Midwest, No. 1 Loyola will look to remain undefeated in the MIVA and win its first conference regular season title in about 10 years as it takes on IPFW.
It’s a huge midweek night in college men’s volleyball with several matches that could have a significant affect on the conference tournament seeding and the race for the NCAA Tournament at-large bids.
No. 5 Stanford and No. 7 USC highlights the slate of matches as both teams continue to battle to earn a home postseason match in the MPSF Tournament. In addition out in the Midwest, Ball State will attempt to put an end to No. 1 Loyola’s perfect run in conference play.
Everything from dramatic upset victories to the races becoming much tighter for a spot in the conference tournaments highlighted this weekend’s slate of matches.
Check out the five things to take away from this weekend in college men’s volleyball.
From rivalry matches to big non-conference and conference showdowns, this slate of matches features everything needed for a big night of college men’s volleyball.
No. 2 Long Beach State and Penn State will both look to improve its NCAA Tournament resume for the selection committee as they play each other in one of the biggest non-conference matches of the season. In addition, No. 7 Stanford will attempt to continue its second-half surge up the MPSF standings as it concludes its weekend series against No. 10 Hawai’i.
Outside attacker Matt Tarantino had 12 kills on zero errors and a match-high .750 attack percentage as No. 5 Pepperdine defeated No. 6 UCLA 25-18, 28-30, 25-23, 25-22 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Tarantino was one of four Waves to have double-digit kills in the victory. In addition, All-American outside attacker Josh Taylor had a match-high 17 kills against the Bruins.
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For a regular season mid-week slate of matches, this is about as big as it gets in college men’s volleyball.
No. 4 Pepperdine and No. 6 UCLA will play each other in a conference showdown that could be a factor when the selection committee meets in the upcoming weeks. In addition, Ball State and IPFW will renew one of the top in-state rivals with second place in the MIVA on the line.