MVB Hosts MPSF Tournament
No. 1 BRUINS HOST MPSF TOURNAMENT — UCLA (21-3), ranked No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, will open play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. It will mark the first time since 1998 that UCLA has hosted the entire MPSF Tournament on its home court after finishing first in the league regular season standings. With a victory, UCLA will advance to the MPSF Championship match on Saturday at 6 p.m.
• First Serve (Thu. Apr. 21): 4 p.m. PT
Video: https://flosports.link/3GqTSKn
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=406101
UCLA AS NO. 1 -- UCLA held its spot at the top in the AVCA poll for a ninth straight week. UCLA enjoyed 8-week runs at No. 1 in 2005 and 1998. The last time it had a longer run atop the AVCA poll was in 1995 (13 weeks). This year's top ranking marks the first appearance for the Bruins at No. 1 since week 12 of the 2016 season (week of Mar. 28). UCLA defeated then No. 1 Long Beach State in five sets on Feb. 19, 2022 to advance into the top of the poll and has remained there. UCLA has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll in 6 of the last 7 seasons (not in 2021).
2022 vs. MPSF TEAMS -- The Bruins have won 7 MPSF Tourney titles --- 2006, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993.
CONCORDIA: UCLA defeated CUI 3-1 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom while hitting .311 and 3-0 in Irvine after hitting .478. UCLA out aced the Eagles 13-4 in the pair of matches and won the blocking battle 22.0 to 13.0.
STANFORD: UCLA split a pair of matches against the Cardinal on the Farm. Stanford defeated UCLA 3-2 and then the Bruins came back to win 3-1 the following night. The Cardinal hit over .300 in each match and outaced the Bruins 9-12. UCLA won the battle at the nets 16.0 total blocks to 11.5.
PEPPERDINE: UCLA swept the home-and-home series with the Waves by 3-0 scores. UCLA hit .386 and .452 in those matches while Pepperdine hit below .200 in each contest. The Bruins held a 9-7 edge in aces and a 24.5 to 5.0 margin in total blocks.
USC: UCLA captured a 3-0 decision at Troy after outhitting the Trojans .364 to .190. The Bruins then came back to defeat USC 3-2 in Pauley. The Bruins held a 8-5 edge in aces and a 15.5 to 13.0 margin in total blocks.
GRAND CANYON: UCLA won back-to-back home matches against GCU in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA hit over .400 each match. Aces were even at 7-7. UCLA held a 24.0 to 6.5 advantage in total blocks.
BYU: UCLA won back-to-back in Provo for the first time since 1997 a week ago. UCLA won 3-1 after outhitting the Cougars .350 to .126. The Bruins posted a reverse sweep for a 3-2 win on night two after hitting .438.
ALL-MPSF HONORS -- Setter Miles Partain was named MPSF Player of the Year, UCLA's first such honor since 2000. Middle blocker Guy Genis was the MPSF Freshman of the Year. Partain joined Ethan Champlin, Kevin Kobrine and Merrick McHenry on the All-MPSF first-team. Genis was on the second-team and Ido David earned honorable mention. Grant Sloane joined David and Genis on the MPSF All-Freshman team.
UCLA HOSTS NCAA TOURNAMENT -- UCLA will also be the host for the entire NCAA Tournament (7 teams) beginning with the Opening Match on May 1, Opening Matches 2 & 3 on May 3, Semis on May 5 and Championship match on May 7. The winners of conference tournaments from the EIVA, MIVA, Conference Carolinas, Big West and MPSF receive automatic bids to the event and will be joined by two at-large teams to be determined by the NCAA Committee on Apr. 24 (10 a.m. PT on NCAA.com). Stanford, in 2010, is the last MPSF team to win the NCAA title.
NCAA/MPSF RANKINGS -- Entering the week, the Bruins are rated in the Top 10 nationally in hitting % (1st-.378), kills (2nd-13.34), set assists (4th-12.38), aces (15th-1.49) and blocks (7th-2.43). Merrick McHenry is second in the nation in hitting % at .526. Miles Partain ranks 7th in the nation in set assists per frame at 10.33. Guy Genis is 11th in blocks (1.04). UCLA enters the tournament leading the MPSF in hitting%, aces, blocks, oppt. hitting% and kills per set.
TEAM NOTES -- UCLA has hit for a higher % than its opponent in all 21 wins this season; it has hit at least .350 in 18 matches and hit at least .400 in 8 of last 13 matches (season-high .576 mark at Morehouse, 3/25) ... Bruins own a 17-1 mark in matches when recording more blocks than the opponent ... UCLA has out blocked 8 of its last 9 opponents 81.0 to 43.0 and out aced its last 9 opponents 53 to 28 (with school record 18 at Fort Valley St.) ... BYU hit .379 in the second match of last weekend in Provo to snap of string of 8 straight matches in which the opponent had hit .200 or less ... 13 times this season UCLA has held an opponent under .200 hitting percentage.
AT HOME/AWAY -- The Bruins are 11-1 at home (3-1 in Wooden Ctr; 8-0 in Pauley) in 2022 ... Over the past six-plus seasons, UCLA is 55-7 in Pauley.