Wednesday, April 15, 1998
UC Santa Barbara
has date with UH
The Rainbows will host the
By Cindy Luis
Gauchos in a first-round match
Saturday in the MPSF men's
volleyball tourney
Star-BulletinThe scramble to fill the last remaining men's volleyball playoff berths didn't end with last night's final matches in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The conference revised its tournament bracket late this morning, sending UC Santa Barbara to Hawaii and Loyola Marymount to UCLA.
Those were the pairings initially drawn up last night but, after reviewing the tie-breaker criteria for at-large berths, a different bracket was posted which had LMU playing at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7 p.m. this Saturday and UCSB going to Pauley Pavilion. It was soon discovered that an outdated criteria had been used and officials announced the original pairings would stand.
The fourth-ranked Rainbows (22-5) will host the Gauchos (10-12), a team they beat on the road over two months ago, 11-15, 15-5, 15-12, 9-15, 15-12. UCSB finished tied for fourth in the Mountain Division with Loyola Marymount after losing four of its last six matches.
"It seems like it was last season when we saw them," said Hawaii assistant coach Tino Reyes, referring to the win back on Feb. 5. "I understand they've had some changes in player personnel and positions since them, but we don't look like the same team either.
"I don't know how we'll match up now, but I'll say that I like our chances. I don't know of any team in the country who is playing as well as we are right now."
The Rainbows ended the regular season last Saturday against Pacific, finishing the last third of the year with a 9-1 run. All nine victories came in straight sets.
Loyola Marymount lost to Pepperdine,15-17, 15-7, 15-9, 15-9, last night, which sent the Lions to UCLA as the eighth-seeded team. The Lions have now lost nine of their last nine matches.
Half of the MPSF tournament berths were decided last night. UC Santa Barbara defeated Cal State Northridge, 15-7, 15-13, 13-15, 17-16.
Long Beach State downed Southern Cal,15-9, 15-12, 15-13, to share second place in the Pacific Division with Stanford. The 49ers got the No. 2 seed on a tie breaker and will host BYU while the Cardinal, the defending NCAA champ, travels to Pepperdine.
Should UCLA win Saturday, the Bruins will host the MPSF Tournament April 23-25 at Pauley Pavilion.
"I'll tell you, I wish the matches weren't so spread out," said Reyes. "We're on a roll and I hope the boys don't wake up until it's all done."
The national championship tournament is scheduled for April 30 and May 2 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
It is the second time the event will be held in Hawaii; in 1991, Long Beach State won the title at Blaisdell Arena.
First-round matches Saturday in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament: MPSF Tournament
UC Santa Barbara (10-12) at Hawaii (22-5), 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
