Follow
There are only two MPSF matches tonight, but they are big ones.
No. 2 BYU will try to stay in sole possession of first place as it plays host to No. 5 Stanford in tonight’s marquee match. In addition, No. 4 Pepperdine will put its undefeated home record on the line as it takes on No. 7 UCLA
Check out the top-five men’s volleyball matches from around the nation to follow this tonight.
1. No. 2 BYU (10-3, 9-2 MPSF) vs. No. 6 Stanford (9-5, 6-5 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Provo, Utah
Follow live: Live stats, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: BYU will play Stanford first time since losing one of the lengthy overtime games in MPSF Tournament history last year that ended the Cougars season and chances of a Final Four berth. Stanford in the 2012 MPSF Tournament semifinals defeated BYU in four games, including a 35-33 overtime victory in the fourth game. BYU enters this match leading the nation with a .326 attack percentage. In addition, outside attacker Taylor Sander is in the nation’s top 10 with a 3.94 kills per game average and had a match-high 23 kills in BYU’s victory against USC last week. Stanford continues its four-match road trip after losing in three games against No. 3 Long Beach State to drop to fifth place in the MPSF. Stanford is also on a six-match winning streak against BYU dating back to 2010.
2. No. 4 Pepperdine (8-4, 8-4 MPSF) def. No. 7 UCLA (10-8, 6-6 MPSF)
Match vitals: 5 p.m. in Malibu, Calif.
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: UCLA has a chance to do something it hasn’t achieved since the second week of the season — win back-to-back matches. However, to accomplish that feat UCLA will have to do something no team has done this season and beat Pepperdine on its home floor. The Waves are 6-0 at Firestone Fieldhouse, including winning first three matches of its season-long four-match homestand. In addition, Pepperdine setter Matt West is also second in the nation with an 11.26 assists per game. UCLA enters this match after sweeping its cross-town rival USC on Monday.
3. No. 9 Penn State (11-3, 5-1 EIVA) vs. Princeton (5-2, 3-1 EIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
Follow live: Gametracker, In-match Tweets
What to know: Just ask coach Mark Pavlik — no one from Penn State is taking its match against Princeton lightly. Pavlik throughout this season when discussing the improvement of the EIVA has always made sure use Princeton as one of the examples. Princeton enters tonight’s conference match on a four-match winning streak, and along with Penn State is the only EIVA team to beat a nationally ranked MPSF team this season. In addition, when Princeton and Penn State played each other last season the Tigers had multiple match-points before the Nittany Lions rallied to win in five games. Penn State defeated George Mason in four games Friday to move into first-place in the EIVA.
4. Ball State (8-4, 3-4 MIVA) vs. Loyola (9-7, 2-2 MIVA)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. in Chicago
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, Radio feed, In-match Tweets
What to know: After more than 10 years of trying and waiting, Ball State will attempt to break its Chicago curse against Loyola. The Cardinals have not won a road match against the Ramblers in conference play since 1999. In addition, both Ball State and Loyola are in desperate need of a MIVA victory. The Cardinals after starting the season 8-0 are on a four-match losing streak, including a three-game loss to Lewis on Friday. Loyola is on a two-match losing streak and blew a 7-2 fifth-game lead in a conference home loss to IPFW on Wednesday.
5. Lewis (10-5, 6-0 MIVA) vs. IPFW (6-4, 3-2 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Romeoville, Ill.
Follow live: Live stats, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: Lewis is one week away from a potential showdown against Ohio State in a battle of undefeated MIVA teams. For that undefeated match-up to happen, though, Lewis will first have to win its conference home match against IPFW. The Fylers after starting the season 1-5 are on a nine-match winning streak and have not lost at home this season. IPFW is 2-1 midway through a season-long six-match road trip, including an upset victory against Loyola on Wednesday. In addition, the Mastodons last season upset the Flyers for their first victory against a top-10 nationally ranked team in five years.