ZACH ENGLUND
Staff Writer
After a dominating start to the season, the Pepperdine men’s volleyball team had a minor setback Friday, losing to the Long Beach State 49ers in five tightly contested games, 3-2 (33-35, 30-26, 23-30, 30-24, 15-11). However, their spirits would be resurrected, as the Waves responded with a dramatic win over No.5-ranked rival UCLA on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Coming in with a three-game winning streak Friday, the Waves (3-1, 2-1 MPSF) started right where they left off, taking a 14-8 lead early on against Long Beach State (4-2, 2-1 MPSF) but the 49ers kept with it and eventually took the lead at 25-23, keeping the pressure on a confident Waves team. The two teams would clash heads and trade leads the rest of the way, yet Pepperdine would hold on and prevail in the first set, 35-33.
The second set began almost the same way as the first, as Long Beach State took a 13-8 lead, a lead they kept for most of the gane. The Waves hung close and made their move late, tying the set at 21-all, but the 49ers remained poised and made plays when they needed them most, ending in a 1-1 tie in the match.
The third set saw neither team gaining much of an advantage out of the gate, as Long Beach State grasped on to the slimmest of leads at 13-12. Neither team had the momentum of the game until sophomore outside hitter Paul Carroll delivered two consecutive aces, sparking the Waves and giving them what seemed like an extra boost of energy through the rest of the set. After taking a 16-13 lead, Pepperdine channeled that energy into a dominating finish, scoring nine of the next twelve points, which lead to a 2-1 edge for the Waves in the match.
Game four of the contest was much like the third, as both teams were deadlocked at 14 apiece halfway through. This time it was the 49ers that took control, making play after play in route to a fourth set victory to force the match into a decisive fifth game.
The fifth set had everyone in Firestone Fieldhouse on the edge of their seats, as the Waves trailed the 49ers by a single point halfway through at 7-8. Despite a thunderous crowd and a higher ranked opponent to overcome, Long Beach State would not surrender the lead and ended up leading the whole way through the fifth set, winning the game and match. After such a disappointing loss to a clear underdog, the Waves would have little time to sulk, as they had their biggest challenge of the young season on Friday, driving across town to take on No.5-ranked UCLA Bruins in what was a game to remember.
The Bruins wasted no time putting the heat on the visiting team, taking a 14-7 lead in the first set. Although the Waves would come within three points at 16-13, the early lead was too much to overcome, as the Bruins would go on to win the first set in convincing fashion, finishing with a nine-point advantage.
After losing the first set in the manner they did, Pepperdine could have easily hung their heads, yet the Waves were firing on all cylinders in the second set, leading the game the entire way through in route to a four-point victory, tying the game at 1-1.
Unlike the first two sets, the third game was up for grabs at the end, with both teams battling their way to a tie at 29-all. After seven game-point attempts in the set, the Bruins were finally able to put together a 3-0 and grinded out the close win to give them the lead in the match, 2-1.
Game four followed the same pattern of two and three, as both teams tangled up late at 24-apiece, but this time the Waves would answer the call. Following a Bruin timeout, Pepperdine would score three straight points and eventually take the set, forcing a fifth and decisive game in the process.
The fifth game was a nail-biter, as both teams would trade points before Pepperdine took an 11-8 lead. With the game appearing to be all but sealed, the Waves made error after error that left the door open for the Bruins to make a comeback. However, not to be denied the victory, the Waves scored three straight points to seal the game and the match for Pepperdine.
“We’re pretty excited,” said John Parfitt, a senior outside-hitter whose 17 kills played a big part in the Waves win. “I thought we played well. We also could have definitely played better down the stretch, but the important thing is that we got the win.”
Paul Carroll was a major factorfor the Waves, finishing with a remarkable 37 kills, which carried much of the offensive load. Another player who contributed heavily was starting freshmen setter Brett Hughes, who finished with an outstanding .513 assist percentage.
Hughes has been filling in for two-time, All-American junior setter Jonathon Winder, who is expected to be out for at least another two weeks with a knee injury. Although listed as a freshman, Hughes has had experience with the team last year and was more than ready for the challenge when his name was called.
“I adjusted to the college game pretty well last year during all the practices,” he said. “I got to see some action as well in games, so I’m not you’re typical freshman player.”
The Waves’ second game of their five-game road trip takes them to Irvine on Saturday, where they will face off against the nation’s No.1 ranked team in UC Irvine at 7 p.m.
01-25-2007
