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BYU finished just short of winning the national championship in 2021, but it’s Pepperdine that is expected to lead the pack in the MPSF in 2022 with at least five teams expected to compete for the conference crown.
Off the Block Senior Contributor Brandon Johnson and Associate Editor Jonathan Bates break down the MPSF and what to know about each team entering the 2022 season.
Pepperdine
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: 3
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 1
2021 record: 13-7 (11-5 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the NCAA Tournament Opening Round
Notable starters lost: outside attacker Noah Dyer (2020 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, 2020 All-MPSF First Team Selection, 2017 MPSF All-Freshman Team)
Notable returners/additions: middle attacker Austin Wilmot (Two-time All-MPSF Selection, AVCA All-America Second Team), outside attacker Spencer Wickens (2021 All-MPSF First Team, AVCA All-America Second Team), setter Bryce Devorak (All-MPSF Second Team, All-MPSF Freshman Team), opposite Jacob Steele (All-MPSF Honorable Mention), libero Trey Cole (All-MPSF Freshman Team), middle attacker Andersen Fuller, outside attacker Jaylen Jasper (Three-time AVCA All-American, Three-time All-MPSF Selection)
OTB bold predictions: On his way to earning First Team All-America honors, Austin Wilmot will average 1.5 blocks per game this season – Brandon Johnson
UCLA
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: 2
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 2
2021 record: 15-6 (14-5 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the MPSF Semifinals
Notable starters lost: setter Sam Kobrine (2021 All-MPSF First Team Selection, 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention), outside attacker Austin Matautia (Two-time All-MPSF Selection, middle attacker Grant Maleski
Notable returners/additions: opposite Cole Ketrzynski (Two-time All-MPSF Selection), middle attacker Merrick McHenry (All-MPSF Second Team, MPSF All-Freshman Team), outside attacker Ethan Champlain (MPSF All-Freshman Team), libero Cole Pender, opposite Kevin Kobrine, middle attacker Guy Genis (Israel National Team), opposite Ido David (Israel U20 National Team)
OTB bold predictions: Merrick McHenry will emerge as one of the top middle attackers in the country and will finish in the top-three of the Ryan Millar Award standings this season – Brandon Johnson
BYU
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: 6
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 3
2021 record: 20-4 (19-3 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Won the MPSF Tournament, Lost in the NCAA Tournament Finals
Notable starters lost: opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez (Two-time MPSF Player of the Year, Four-time AVCA All-American, Four-time All-MPSF First Team, 2020 Bryan Ivie Award Winner, 2020 National Server of the Year), setter Wil Stanley (Two-time AVCA All-American, Two-Time All-MPSF Selection, 2020 Lloy Ball Award Winner, , middle attacker Miki Juahiainen (Two-time All-MPSF Selection), middle attacker Felipe de Brito Ferreira (Four-time All-MPSF Selection, 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention), outside attacker Zach Eschenberg Two-time All-MPSF Selection, 2021 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention)
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Davide Gardini (Three-time All-MPSF Selection, Two-time AVCA All-America First Team selection, 2020 Karch Kiraly Award winner), middle attacker Gavin Julien, libero Mitchell Worthington, middle attacker Alessandro Giannoti (Italian U19 National Team), outside attacker Kupono Browne
OTB bold predictions: BYU will struggle to replace its firepower from their national runner-up campaign in 2021 and will finish in 5th place in the MPSF – Brandon Johnson
Grand Canyon
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: 9
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 4
2021 record: 9-11 (8-10 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the MPSF Semifinals
Notable starters lost: middle attacker Ian McLain
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Camden Gianni (Two-time MPSF Freshman of the Year, Two-time All-MPSF Selection, 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention), outside attacker Christian Janke (Two-time All-MPSF Selection, opposite Hugo Fischer (Two-time All-MPSF Selection), setter Heath Hughes, libero Cole Udall
OTB bold predictions: Camden Gianni will win the Karch Kiraly Award on his way to earning First-Team All-America honors – Brandon Johnson
USC
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 5
2021 record: 5-13 (5-12 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the MPSF Quarterfinals
Notable starters lost: middle attacker Vecas Lewin
Notable returners/additions: opposite Billy Fauntleroy (All-MPSF Second Team Selection) libero Cole Paxson (All-MPSF Honorable Mention), outside attacker Brandon Browning, setter Chris Hall, outside attacker Sam Kobrine (2021 All-MPSF First Team Selection, 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention)
OTB bold predictions: Behind a strong returning core and with the addition of Sam Kobrine, the Trojans will finish in the top 4 of the MPSF – Brandon Johnson
Stanford
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 6
2021 record: 3-14 (3-13 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the MPSF Quarterfinals
Notable starters lost: middle attacker Kyler Presho (Four-time All-MPSF Selection, opposite Jaylen Jasper (Three-time AVCA All-American, Three-time All-MPSF Selection), outside attacker Kupono Browne, outside attacker J.P. Reilly
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Will Rottman (MPSF All-Freshman Team), setter Nathan Lietzke (MPSF All-Freshman Team), libero Justin Lui, middle attacker Nathaniel Gates, outside attacker Luke Turner, outside attacker Kevin Lamp
OTB bold predictions: outside attacker Will Rottman will finish the regular season averaging over 4 kills per game during his junior campaign – Brandon Johnson
Concordia-Irvine
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason MPSF poll ranking: 7
2021 record: 3-14 (3-13 MPSF)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in the MPSF Quarterfinals
Notable starters lost: opposite Raymond Barsemian (Three-time All-MPSF Selection, 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention), outside attacker Jordan Hoppe (Two-time All-MPSF Selection), libero Addison Enriques,
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Jordan Carlson, setter McLain Mott, middle attacker Gil Herold, opposite Uriel Batista
OTB bold predictions: While Concordia-Irvine lost their top two pin hitters as well as their head coach from a year ago, maybe a change at the helm is a breath of fresh air. Former gold medalist Riley Salmon takes the reigns after going 32-5 at NAIA program, Jamestown. Salmon will lead the Eagles to a couple of wins at home versus top-ten ranked opponents.