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There is only one match between two top 10 ranked teams tonight, but as today has shown rankings are not needed for intrigue.
No. 9 Penn State this afternoon survived in five games against Lees-McRae, which was attempting to be the first team from the Conference Carolinas to defeat a top 10 ranked team. In addition, one week ago all five of the top ranked lost, with four of them losing to teams outside of the top 10.
Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight.
1. No. 4 Stanford (9-4, 6-4 MPSF) vs. Pepperdine (5-5, 3-5 MPSF)
Match vitals: 10 p.m. at Malibu, Calif.
Follow live: Gametacker, Online video
What to know: After starting the conference season 0-5, the Waves have slowly climbed out of last place winning three straight MPSF matches and are back in the playoff picture. Pepperdine outside attacker Maurice Torres has 60 kills during this three-match winning streak, including a team-high 17 in a victory against No. 1 USC. Stanford lost in three games to USC earlier this week to move back to fourth place in the MPSF standings.
2. No. 7 UCLA (8-7, 3-6 MPSF) vs. No. 10 Hawai’i (5-7, 3-4 MPSF)
Match vitals: 10 p.m. at Los Angeles
Follow live: Gametracker, Radio feed
What to know: UCLA and Hawai’i will conclude their two-match series after the Bruins won the first match in three games Thursday. Three Burins in the first match had at least 10 kills as UCLA was able to snap its five match conference losing streak. Hawai’i had more than a .450 attack percentage in two of the three games on Thursday but had 17 service errors — four more than UCLA — and six receiving errors.
3. Ball State (6-5, 1-2 MIVA) vs. Loyola (8-3, 3-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. at Muncie, Ind.
Follow live: Live stats, Radio feed
What to know: To determine who will win a match between Ball State and Loyola all you have to do is look at where the match will be played. Ball State has not won a match at Alumni Gym in more than 10 years, and Loyola has won one match at Worthen Arena in the last five years. The Ramblers enter tonight’s match on a three-match winning streak, including a victory against No. 2 BYU, while the Cardinals lost in three games last night to Ohio State.
No. 1 USC (7-1, 7-1 MPSF) vs. Pacific (6-8, 2-6 MPSF)
Match vitals: 10 p.m. at Los Angeles
Follow live: Gametracker
What to know: USC is in first place in the MPSF, and Pacific is in second to last place in the conference. However, if recent history tells us anything this match might not be a for sure blow out. The Trojans won both matches against the Tigers last year in five games. In addition, Pacific has already won more conference this season than it did in the last two seasons combined.
UC San Diego (6-9, 3-6 MPSF) vs. Cal State Northridge (3-10, 2-6 MPSF)
Match vitals: 10 p.m. at San Diego
Follow live: Live stats
What to know: Believe it or not, there is some intrigue to this match between two teams in the bottom three of the MPSF standings. Both teams had upset top five ranked teams last week. In addition, UC San Diego’s Phil Bannan is leading MPSF with 27 aces, while Cal State Nothridge’s Drew Staker is fifth in the nation with .439 attack percent