>From: Zapolski, Mike
>Subject: Pepperdine And BYU To Clash For MPSF Tournament Title
>Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 22:43:49 -0700

PEPPERDINE POSTS THREE-GAME SWEEP OVER UC IRVINE;
WAVES TO FACE BRIGHAM YOUNG IN TITLE MATCH SATURDAY NIGHT

Sophomore outside hitter Sean Rooney collected a team-high total of 21 kills
on Thursday night and top-ranked Pepperdine defeated No. 4
UC Irvine by scores of 30-26, 30-20, 30-27 in a semifinal round match of the
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Tournament played in front of
1,507 fans at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves will tangle with No. 3 Brigham Young in the MPSF Tournament title
match on Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m., with the winner earning the
league's automatic berth to the four-team NCAA Championships scheduled for
May 1 and 3 at The Pyramid in Long Beach.

Brigham Young defeated No. 2 Hawaii in the other semifinal round match by
scores of 30-28, 37-35, 30-26. Senior outside hitter Rafael Paal led a
balanced Cougars' attack with a team-leading total of 14 kills.

Ticket prices for Saturday night's match are $15 for adults and $10 for
students and children. The match will be televised live by the College
Sports Television Network and broadcast live on the internet via the
Pepperdine Athletics website.

Pepperdine, 24-4, dominated the undersized Anteaters as the Waves hit a
combined .406 as a team and limited UC Irvine to a .198 team attack
percentage.

Rooney accumulated 21 kills and committed only three errors in 33 total
attempts for a sizzling .545 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Fred
Winters added 12 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Mike Gledhill and
freshman middle blocker Andy Hein both totaled seven kills.

Pepperdine controlled play at the net, winning the blocking battle by a
commanding 11-4 margin. Senior middle blocker Brad Keenan paced the Waves
with five total blocks.

Sophomore setter John Mayer totaled 44 assists and a team-best 11 digs to
pace the Waves.

Junior outside hitter Jimmy Pelzel pounded down a match-high total of 26
kills to lead UC Irvine. Pelzel was limited to a .241 attack mark, as he
committed 13 errors in 54 swings. Junior middle blocker Kyle Weichert added
seven kills for the Anteaters.

UC Irvine completed its season with an overall record of 20-11 under the
direction of first-year head coach John Speraw.

Brigham Young parlayed a balanced offensive effort and steady defense to end
Hawaii's 14-match winning streak that dated back to a four-game loss to
Pepperdine on Feburary 26 in Honolulu.

Hawaii, the defending NCAA champion, ended its season with a 24-6 record,
while Brigham Young improved to 21-6.

Paal collected 14 kills to lead Brigham Young and added two service aces and
10 digs. Junior outside hitter Jonathan Alleman registered 13 kills and a
match-high total of 13 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Michael Burke
added 12 kills and a team-best three total blocks.

Senior outside hitter Tony Ching led Hawaii with a match-best total of 16
kills, while senior outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, the MPSF "Player of
the Year" was credited with 13 kills but held to a .143 hitting mark.

Hawaii rallied from a 22-14 deficit in the second game, but Brigham Young
was able to hold off the hard-charging Rainbows for a 37-35 victory.

Brigham Young completed the match with a team hitting mark of .393, while
Hawaii was limited to a .264 hitting percentage. The Cougars registered 45
digs compared to only 34 for the Rainbows.




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