Match Notes

HONOLULU – At the midway point of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation season, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team hosts a crucial two-match series with Pepperdine, Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.

 

The No. 10 Warriors (6-9, 4-6 MPSF) are coming off an eight-day, four-match road trip with a 1-3 record against UCLA and UC Irvine. Hawai'i rebounded from a straight-set loss to the Bruins with a three-set win two nights later. Against the Anteaters, the Warriors dropped both matches in four sets, despite a dominant hitting and blocking performance on night two.

 

For the trip, All-American opposite Jonas Umlauft averaged 5.21 kills per set and hit .374. Outside hitter Joshua Walker averaged 3.21 kills per set and hit .378 with only eight errors in 98 swings.

 

In fact, offensively, all five attackers hit .360 or above for the trip and as a team, the Warriors boasted an amazing .369 hitting percentage. Defensively, the Warriors allowed their opponents to hit .338 while allowing 26 service aces.

 

The ninth-ranked Waves (6-7, 4-7) are just behind the Warriors in the MPSF standings by one loss, however, they own a victory over top-ranked USC three weeks ago in Malibu, Calif. Pepperdine split a pair of road matches last week with a loss at Long Beach State and win over Cal State Northridge. Sophomore Maurice Torres leads the Waves attack with a 3.96 kill average while hitting only .248.

 

Who: No. 9 Pepperdine (6-7, 4-7 MPSF) vs. No. 10 Hawai'i (6-9, 4-6 MPSF)

When: Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5

Time: 7:00 p.m. both nights

Where: Stan Sheriff Center; Honolulu, HI

Television Coverage: KFVE-TV (Ch. 5) will televise both matches live with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Ryan Tsuji (color). Rebroadcast of UH match at 10:30 p.m. each night.

Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on uhstreaming.oceanic.com.

Radio Coverage: ESPN 1420 AM will broadcast both matches live with Scott Robbs calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Available at espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Promotions: Bank of Hawaii is the match sponsor on Friday and will distribute 1,000 “Roll Banners” and 200 lanyards before the contest.

Tickets: Lower-level $11; Upper-level adult $8, Upper-level senior citizen $7; Upper-level student (4-HS) $3. UH-Manoa students receive admission with validated ID.

Series vs. Pepperdine: Pepperdine leads the overall series, 38-24, including an 16-13 advantage in Honolulu. The Warriors and the Waves met in last year's MPSF Tournament quarterfinals with Hawai'i pulling out a five-set victory at the Stan Sheriff Center. In regular season matches, Pepperdine has swept the season-series in Honolulu the last three times (2005, '07, and '09)