Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - Printable Version
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Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - FarmBoy - 04-24-2012
The Stanford men's volleyball team is playing in the MPSF final four at the U.SC Galen Center. They're #3 in the country and if they win the semifinal game against BYU, they will likely going to the NCAA finals even if they don't win the MPSF (only 4 teams go and at most 2 from the MPSF.)
The seniors on this team are a great group who were integral to the NCAA championship we won in 2010. Brad Lawson was MPSF player of the year that year, and continues to be a great hitter and powerful server.
But my favorite player on the team is Erik Shoji. I was never a big fan of the development of the Libero position in volleyball, but Shoji has made me a convert. As an all time defensive specialist, some of his digs ("saves") are better than any kill (spike that scores a point). In 2009, after a teammate shanked a pass, he reached out his foot to "set" the ball to a teammate for a kill (in white on the hear side, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0gZQq_tyLE). On Saturday night against Pepperdine, he got under an unblocked quick middle and gave a perfect pass on what's usually a definite point for the opponent (in the black on the far side, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGEq75SPpIw). He often considered the best to play the game, at least at the collegiate level, at his position. Oddly, he has accumulated 3 first team all-NCAA team selections (this year's team is unanounced), but this is the first year he was honored as a first team all-MPSF (I guess the MPSF coaches don't care for Libero's much.)
Anyway, the game is at 5PM at the Galen Center. Be there or be square.
Re: Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - FarmBoy - 04-27-2012
The game last night provided great drama, even if the play was a bit sloppy. The boys in Cardinal outlasted BYU to advance to the MPSF finals, to be held Saturday night at U.SC's Galen Center. The fourth match was especially intense, with 28 tie scores and 16 lead changes and ending with a Stanford ace to win 35-33 (volleyball games to go 25 pts, but you must win by two, so like tennis the games can go on and on.)
The full write up is here: http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-volley/recaps/042612aaa.html
Because U.SC lost to UCI in the other quarterfinal, Stanford needs to win the championship to assure itself of a birth in next week's NCAA final four. Otherwise, the selection committee could choose U.SC, who was the MPSF regular season champion and beat Stanford twice during the regular season. Stanford split the regular season series with UCI, with each team winning on the other's home court.
It should be a great match for anyone able to make it out there. It will also be shown on-line, I believe.
Re: Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - yvonne - 04-27-2012
(04-27-2012, 08:56 AM)FarmBoy link Wrote:Because U.SC lost to UCI in the other quarterfinal, Stanford needs to win the championship to assure itself of a birth in next week's NCAA final four.
That would definitely be history making. I hope the men have a berth in the NCAA Final Four.
Re: Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - yvonne - 04-27-2012
Has a men's team ever had a birth in the Final Four?
Re: Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - FarmBoy - 04-27-2012
The men's team won the championship in 2010 and 1997. Brad Lawson, our senior OH, was MVP, iirc.
It would be historic, in that this would be the first time Stanford players played in multiple Final Fours, I think.
Regardless, it's a great team, fun to watch, there won't be any Trojan fans stinking up the place (as their team lost already), so come out watch!
Stanford MVB in NCAA Final Four - dpbrewster - 04-29-2012
In addition to the two NCAA championships in 1997 and 2010, Stanford was also the NCAA runner-up in 1989 (losing to UCLA) and in 1992 (losing to Pepperdine).
Re: Anyone in SoCal Thursday night - yvonne - 04-29-2012
I bet there wasn't a birth at either one.