• With so much roster turnover across the country, the race to the NCAA national semifinals could be an interesting one. The top 10 included in this piece will likely have a vastly different look to it by season’s end.
• Two early-season tournaments of note are the annual Outrigger Invitational in Hawaii and the Elephant Bar Invitational at UC Santa Barbara. This year’s Outrigger field features UCLA, Penn State, an improved Ball State team (led by All-American libero Ian Peckler) and host Hawaii. UC Santa Barbara features seven MPSF teams (UCSB, Irvine, USC, Long Beach, Northridge, Pacific and Stanford), plus Canadian university power Alberta. One coach said Alberta could compete in the upper tier of the MPSF because of its size and serving ability.
• Stanford, under second-year coach John Kosty, is poised to make a charge at an MPSF playoff berth. The Cardinal has just one senior on a deep roster. “We’ve got 17 guys in the gym here,” said Kosty. “That’s the first time in a long time we’ve had that many. I think we will be greatly improved.”
• From the randomness department: UC Santa Barbara, which finished in the top 10 in both the coach and media polls last year, was hit hard by graduation (8 players gone). But the Gauchos still return All-American Theo Brunner (moving to the right side) and junior setter Max Klineman…George Mason will be aided by the return of junior Hudson Bates (6’5”, OH) and senior R.J. Goubeaux (6’9”, MB) from injury…Long Beach State is another youthful team to keep an eye on. The 49ers are led by senior All-American candidate Paul Lotman who pounded home 4.51 kills and hit .308 last year…Lewis is also quickly building for the future. Flyers senior outside hitter Jared Dayton (4.17 kills in 2007) draws rave reviews from opposing league coaches.
• The 2008 NCAA national championship will be held May 1 and 3 at the Bren Center on the campus of UC Irvine. Word on the street is BYU will host the 2009 finals.
Interim coach: Shawn Patchell (2nd season)
2007 record: 23-6, 18-4 MPSF
Key returning players: Seniors Ivan Perez (6’4”, OH), Russell Holmes (6’8”, MB), Trent Sorensen (6’7”, MB), sophomore Yamil Perez (6’1”, S)
Outlook: Patchell, a former player at BYU, returns for a second season as interim coach while the program is still under NCAA review. Last year’s co-interim coach Ryan Millar returned to the U.S. Men’s National Team. On the court, the Cougars return All-Americans in Ivan Perez (3.45 kpg, .379 hitting) and Holmes (2.39 kpg, 1.45 bpg, .438 hitting) and the national freshman of the year in Yamil Perez (13.46 apg). Sorensen and 6’6” sophomore outside Andrew Stewart also saw significant action last season. Cuban standout Yosleyder Cala left the team and is playing professionally in Puerto Rico, while right side Robby Stowell is away on a mission and will be replaced by Jonathan Charette (6’2”, Sr.), who averaged 2.23 kills per game two years ago. “We definitely have some experience and some playoff experience,” said Patchell. “Our middles are our strong point and we’re deep at outside hitter. We know we can side out. I think we can really be successful if we serve and pass well. This team is even stronger without a go-to guy. We’ve got a lot of guys we can go to.”
Coach: Al Scates (46th season, 1,154-223)
2007 record: 19-11, 13-9 MPSF
Key returning players: Senior Tony Ker (5’11”, Lib.), juniors Jamie Diefenbach (6’8”, MB), Matt Wade (6’5”, S), sophomores Garrett Muagututia (6’5”, OH), Dylan Bowermaster (6’6”, OH), Kevin Ker (6’1”, S)
Outlook: The Bruins are young and loaded with talent. Tony Ker is the most experienced of the bunch and was an All-American and the ASICS®/Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. His brother, Kevin, is battling Wade for the starting setter position and dad, Walt, has returned as a volunteer assistant coach. Muagututia (2.92 kpg) and Bowermaster (1.56 kpg) contributed as freshmen. Diefenbach (2.26 kpg, .345 hitting), headlines a deep middle crew. Sophomore Brett Perrine, who hit .315 and averaged a block a game last year is in the running for the right side position that opened with the graduation of All-American Steve Klosterman. “We are a lot deeper than usual,” said Scates. “We will be better even though we lost two top guys with Klosterman and (Paul) George. Our setting is very good and we could have all jump-servers in the lineup. We will score a lot of points when we serve.” A number of freshmen from UCLA’s third-ranked recruiting class could also factor into the mix immediately.
Coach: Mark Pavlik (14th season, 309-100)
2007 record: 22-8, 12-0 (EIVA champions, NCAA semifinalist)
Top returning players: Senior Luke Murray (6’, S), juniors Matt Anderson (6’10”, OH), Max Holt (6’9”, MB), Ryan Sweitzer (6’5”, Opp.), Jay Stauffer (6’4”, OH), sophomore Max Lipsitz (6’7”, MB)
Outlook: The Nittany Lions continue to gain momentum with four returning starters from last year’s national semifinalist. Murray (12.64 apg) is the team’s lone senior and is a veteran distributor with big-match experience. Holt (2.71 kpg, .447 hiting, 1.21 bpg) and Lipsitz (2.21 kpg, .471 hitting, 1.03 bpg) form one of the top middle tandems in the nation, while Anderson (4.35 kpg), a 2007 ASICS®/Volleyball All-American first-team selection, is quickly developing into one of the top offensive players in the land. Freshman Dennis Del Valle (Puerto Rico) will take over at the libero position. “I like where we are at,” said Pavlik. “Luke Murray sets the ball well for us. He’ll pick up where he left off. Our strength is going to be our two middles, Matt and Luke running the offense. I think we’ll be fine and we’ll be able to do some good things.” Keep in mind, Penn State also has sophomore George Mason transfer Will Price (6’5”, Opp.) in the program. He won’t be eligible to compete until the 2009 season.
Coach: John Speraw (6th season, 99-59)
2007 record: 29-5, 17-5 (MPSF and NCAA champions)
Top returning players: Senior Aaron Harrell (6’5”, MB), juniors Brent Asuka (5’11”, Lib.), Taylor Wilson (6’7”, OH-Opp.), sophomore Cole Reinholm (6’4”, OH)
Outlook: The defending NCAA champions, who have assembled a 56-10 mark over the last two seasons, graduated four All-Americans and four NCAA all-tournament selections (Jayson Jablonsky, Matt Webber, Brian Thornton and David Smith) from last year’s team. However, Harrell (.443 hitting, 1.06 bpg) is a veteran in the middle and Asuka is one of the top liberos in the nation and has patrolled the backcourt in two NCAA national tournament settings. Wilson (2.67 kpg) and Reinholm (2.38 kpg, .305 hitting) both saw action last year on the outside, though Wilson may wind up on the right side. Junior Nick Spittle was setting during the fall exhibition season. Speraw will also be able to tap into two recent strong recruiting classes that were rated second and sixth by Volleyball. “In terms of talent in the gym, this is as deep as we have ever been,” said Speraw. “We’ve got some guys who have been on the court in a national championship situation for a couple of years. We’ve got guys on the court who know how to win.”
Coach: Arnie Ball (28th season, 457-314)
2007 record: 23-8, 9-3 (MIVA champions, NCAA finalist)
Top returning players: Seniors C.J. Macias (6’4”, OH), Brock Ullrich (6’6”, OH), Josh Stewart (6’8”, MB), Jason Yhost (6’4”, OH)
Outlook: The Mastadons return a plethora of offensive firepower from last year’s team that lost to UC Irvine in the NCAA title match. Macias (4.75 kpg) was an ASICS®/Volleyball All-American first-team selection, while Ullrich (2.64 kpg, .317 hitting), Stewart (2.54 kpg, .458 hitting, 1.56 bpg) and Yhost (2.09 kpg, .300 hitting) played major roles in the team’s postseason run. A glaring question mark is the setting position after the graduation of standout Colin Lundeen. In the fall, seniors Grayden Ainsworth and Dan McNerney, along with sophomore Corey Stewart and German import Hannes Maisch were in contention for the spot. Senior Steve Rogers (6’6”) and German addition Oliver Kook were battling for the other open middle position. Libero Mike Morici has returned from a knee injury and will join Matt Pliske, who started as a freshman last year. “I don’t think it hurts to have experienced kids like we do,” said Ball. “Two years ago was tough (NCAA semifinals). Last year was fun. We’re looking to take the one last year and move right on.”
Coach: Marv Dunphy (25th season, 452-173)
2007 record: 26-3, 21-1 (MPSF regular-season champions; NCAA semifinalist)
Top returning players: Senior Jonathan Winder (6’8”, S), juniors J.D. Schleppenbach (6’4”, OH), Paul Carroll (6’7”, OH)
Outlook: Pepp was hit hard by graduation, but the remaining pieces from last year are, to say the least, impressive. Winder (13.68 apg, 1.92 dpg) was the 2007 ASICS®/Volleyball Men’s College Player of the Year, while the hard-hitting Carroll (5.60 kpg, .366 hitting) was an ASICS®/Volleyball All-American first-team selection. Winder is on the rebound from a severe hernia that required surgery, while Carroll is a year older and stronger. “We’ve got some experienced players surrounded by a lot of youth,” said Dunphy. True freshmen Cory Riecks (6’8”, OH), Tyler Jaynes (6’9”, MB) and Kasey Crider (6’4”, S) could make immediate contributions, as could Irvine Valley C.C. import Sean Grubbs (5’10”, Lib.) and Rutgers-Newark transfer Mark Hulse (6’8”, MB). Hulse is the younger brother of former Waves star Tom Hulse. “We’ve got a lot of unknowns,” said Dunphy. “The big question mark is to what level can these young guys play at by the end of the season? We don’t expect them to be all-world at the beginning.”
Coach: Jeff Campbell (11th season, 143-142)
2007 record: 18-15, 11-11 MPSF
Top returning players: Seniors Travis Bluemling (6’4”, S), Isaac Kneubuhl (6’1”, OH), junior Eric Vance (6’4”, OH), sophomores Sean Pedersen (6’8”, S), Kevin McKniff (6’7”, MB)
Outlook: The Matadors, who have five starters back, must replace the output of graduated standout Dan Rhodes (4.51 kpg). But Vance (3.04 kpg, .278 hitting), Kneubuhl (2.06 kpg) and McKniff (.405 hitting as a freshman) all saw significant time last year as did sophomore outside Mike Gaudino. Both Bluemling and Pedersen return significant setting experience from a year ago. Redshirt 6’9” freshman middle Cody Loe played well in the fall. Sophomore libero Andy Pompei is new to the squad after transferring from BYU.
Coach: Mike Wilton (16th season, 296-133; 30th season overall, 617-283)
2007 record: 13-14, 11-11 MPSF
Top returning players: Juniors Jim Clar (6’2”, OH), Jake Schkud (6’4”, MB-OH), sophomores Matt Rawson (6’7”, MB), Matt Vanzant (6’2”, OH), Ric Cervantes (5’11”, Lib.)
Outlook: The Warriors were 3-13 at one point last year but then rattled off 10 wins in a row and took national champion UC Irvine to five games in the MPSF playoffs. This year’s team is youthful with just one senior. Junior Sean Carney (6’3”) and freshman Nejc Zemljak (6’2”) were battling for the setting position in the fall. Clar put up 3.70 kills per game in 2007. Vanzant averaged 3.03 kills per game as a freshman, while Rawson hit .332 and averaged 1.31 blocks a year ago. Schkud, who saw some action last year, had 30 kills and hit .400 in a four-game match in the fall against Pepperdine. “We have the capability to be a pretty good team,” said Wilton. “We still want to get better at serving and passing. When we do that, we’ll have a good, balanced attack and I think we can have a nice team.”
Coach: Bill Ferguson (2nd season)
2007 record: 12-16, 9-13 MPSF
Top returning players: Seniors Juan Figueroa (6’0”, OH), Jimmy Killian (6’4”, S), juniors Andrew Vernon (6’8”, MB), Luke Morris (6’2”, Lib.), C.J. Schellenberg (6’7”, Opp.), sophomore Hunter Current (6’8”, MB)
Outlook: USC is one of two teams (Stanford being the other) in the MSPF that thanks to strong recent recruiting classes is gaining steam in a hurry. The Trojans, with all seven starters back, have a great veteran nucleus with four-year players Figueroa (4.90 kpg) and Killian (12.77 apg) and a tremendous amount of young talent in the gym. Schellenberg averaged 3.62 kills in 2007, while Vernon averaged 2.12 kills and 1.25 blocks and Current hit .337. USC’s top-rated recruiting class may be put the test right away. Ferguson said Murphy Troy (OH), Riley McKibbin (S), Austin Zahn (MB) and Sean Dennis (Opp.) were pushing veterans during the fall season. “The strength of this team is the level of competition in the gym,” said Ferguson. USC returned to the MSPF playoffs last year. “Now we want to try and host a first-round playoff match,” said Ferguson. “That’s our goal. When you look at the league, for the first time in awhile there has been a lot of turnover and for the first time in awhile we have an experienced group of guys.”
Coach: Pete Hanson (24th season, 457-255)
2007 record: 23-4, 10-2 (MIVA regular-season champions)
Top returning players: Seniors Daniel Mathews (6’5”, S), Conor Martin (6’1”, Lib.), Brett Versen (6’7”, OH), juniors Robbie Klein (6’3”, OH), John Albertson (6’5”, MB)
Outlook: Ohio State won the MIVA regular-season title, but lost to IPFW in the MIVA tournament title match. The Buckeyes return four starters, plus Versen (2.51 kpg) saw action at the end of last year. Klein averaged 3.48 kills and hit .317, while Albertson averaged 2.40 kills and hit .412, while leading the team in blocking (1.34 bpg). Mathews, a 2007 ASICS®/Volleyball All-American first-team selection, is one of the top setters in the nation. Sophomore Ben Spurlock (6’7”, MB) is back after a medical redshirt year. Redshirt freshmen Kevin Heine (6’5”, MB), John Klanac (6’5”, OH) and Jason Tobkin (6’7”, OH) could also add to the equation. “We’ve got guys who have been out there three and four years now,” said Hanson. “They will help keep the young guys steady and focused.”
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