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Check out the five things to take away from the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball matches this weekend.
UCLA still perfect in MPSF — All-American outside attacker Jake Arnitz finished with a match-high 20 kills on a .450 attack percentage to help No. 2/2 UCLA beat its rival USC in four games on Friday. With this victory, the Bruins remain in sole possession of first place in the MPSF and are one of two MPSF teams undefeated in conference play. USC outside attacker Lucas Yoder in the loss had a team-high 15 kills. In addition, Yoder in a postmatch interview with Off the Block called out his teammates for a lack of focus and commitment to their passing and serving.
Roller coaster weekend for Hawai’i — No. 5/4 Hawai’i one day after being out .534 to .191 in a three-game loss to No. 4/5 Long Beach State rebounded to defeat No. 6/6 UC Irvine in four games on Saturday. Opposite Stijn van Tilburg in the victory had a team-high 19 kills while hitting .485. The win ended the Rainbow Warriors’ two-match losing streak to begin their three-match road trip.
Lewis big block rolls through EIVA — No. 8/7 Lewis had 13.5 blocks and held No. 15 Penn State to less than a .200 attack percentage in three of five games during a non-conference road victory on Friday. In addition, Lewis finished with a season-high 16.5 blocks in a five-game victory against St. Francis on Saturday to extend its winning streak to five matches.
Limestone aces early-season test — Opposite Bruno Kretzschmar had four of the Saints’ 13 aces as Limestone defeated the Conference Carolinas preseason favorite Barton in four games on Saturday morning. Along with Kretzschmar, middle attacker Dylan Lavner added three aces and a team-high 14 kills on a .480 attack percentage. Barton entered this road match having won its first two conference matches and in sole possession of first place.
Serving woes don’t stop Ball State — No. 13 Ball State overcame a season-high 26 service errors to defeat Harvard in five games on Friday. The Cardinals finished with a .311 attack percentage and had four players with double-digit kills, including middle attacker Matt Walsh. Walsh contributed with 11 kills on a .714 attack percentage as Ball State won its first of two non-conference road matches during the weekend.