By Joann Groff
Assistant Sports Editor
“The only pressure I ever really feel is: am I training my team the right way?” The words of Head Men’s Volleyball Coach Marv Dunphy help to explain why his team is dominating the Mountain-Pacific Sports Federation this season.
After leading his team past some of the best in the league, bringing the Waves to a six-game winning streak, and recently becoming the only undefeated team in the MPSF, it’s safe to say Dunphy is doing something right.
The Waves’ momentum from the previous week carried them through No. 5 Long Beach State in five games and No. 15 University of California San Diego in three.
Outside hitters sophomore Sean Rooney and junior Fred Winters shared lucky numbers on Friday after both collected 20 kills in the match against the 49ers. In their fourth conference match up, the Waves swept through the Pyramid 3-2 by scores of 24-30, 30-21, 31-33, 30-22, 15-10.
“Our programs know each other pretty well,” Dunphy said. “We always plan on winning though and were ready to do what it takes.”
The Waves dominated in blocks, boasting a 25-35 margin and that played a big factor in their win over the MPSF team.
“The players blocked really well,” Dunphy said. “We really played our best when our best was needed. We scored some big points and received the serve better and better as the match went on.”
Winters agrees that the team blocked very well, and says accuracy is also a factor.
“It was a good match,” Winters said. “Good to win a five-gamer. The main thing is that we hit it in, they hit it out. That’s why we pulled it out in the end. We put the pressure on them.”
The pressure may have been laid on a little late, but it was enough to clinch the victory.
“I think we came out a little slow,” Rooney said. “Game five we played really well though. That was the most important game for us because we played consistently. We played with intensity the whole game, instead of just part of the time.”
The next morning, the team traveled to San Diego to beat the Tritons on their home court, in three quick games.
“San Diego is way at the bottom of our league,” Dunphy said. “They’ll beat somebody soon, but it wasn’t going to be us. We took that game seriously — our team captain, Brad, made sure of that.”
Pepperdine posted a .354 team attack mark and held UCSD to a .128 hitting percentage.
“Our whole game was good,” senior middle blocker Brad Keenan said. “Everything — passing, serving, blocking, hitting. We took it to them. San Diego is a pretty good team. They didn’t play well against us.”
Keenan claimed 10 total blocks and 11 kills in the match against the Tritons, while both senior Iibero Dhiraj Coats and sophomore setter John Mayor totaled a team-best seven digs.
“Coats is receiving the serve very well,” Dunphy said. “He’s playing good defense and helping in transition with his communication.”
Sophomore outside hitter Mike Gledhill tallied seven each of blocks and kills.
With a 5-0 MPSF conference record, the Waves sit at the No. 1 spot in conference, and hold their No. 4 national ranking.
“It means something to be undefeated,” Rooney said. “Every win will be big for us. We’re definitely in a good spot. If we keep winning, we’ll get in a pattern of winning, constantly getting better.
Rooney says the team recognizes the importance of their recent wins, but focuses on keeping the level of play up where it needs to be.
“The next games are very important,” Rooney said. “We need to be ready, concentrate on defensive blocking, like in practice. We need to play well in the beginning and carry it all the way through.”
That’s the plan for tonight when the Waves face the No. 6 Cardinal.
“We expect to win,” Keenan said of the highly anticipated Stanford game. “We’ll have to play well in order to beat them, but the more people, the more cheering, the easier it will be.”
Coach Dunphy agrees.
“This is going to be a well-played game of volleyball,” he said. “Our crowd is a great volleyball crowd — energetic and knowledgeable about the game. They are out there cheering for the good guys.”
February 06, 2003