Waves Outblock & Outlast the Eaters

http://ucirvinesports.cstv.com/sports/m-volley/recaps/022109aaa.html

No. 3 Pepperdine Tops No. 2 UC Irvine, 3-1
Jon Steller pounds career-high 32 kills

Feb. 20, 2009

Final Stats

Malibu, Calif. – Paul Carroll put away a nation’s best 37 kills as No. 3 Pepperdine beat No. 2 UC Irvine, 3-1 (27-30, 30-27, 39-37, 30-26) at Firestone Fieldhouse Friday.

Carroll put away 37 kills which ties his career-high while hitting .462 (37-7-65). He also had a team-high 16 digs. The Waves out-blocked UCI, 21 to 7.5, the most blocks against the Anteaters this season and second fewest for UCI this year. UCI was its own worst enemy with 24 service errors.

Pepperdine’s block dominated the beginning of the first set and helped the Waves jump out to a 6-0 start. Pepperdine had built a 13-6 lead, before UCI climbed back into the game with a 9-2 run to tie the score at 15-15. UCI would score the next five behind the strength of Kevin Wynne’s serving which included an ace, 20-15. Pepperdine would not get closer than two the rest of the set as UCI won 30-27. The first set was not an offensive showcase by the top two hitting teams in the MPSF as UCI hit -.021 and Pepperdine hit -.073. The Waves had 8.5 blocks.

With the score tied at 22-22 in the second set, Pepperdine used one of UCI’s nine service errors followed by two Carroll kills to open a 25-22 advantage. UCI would close to 28-26 on a Jon Steller kill but another Anteater service error gave the Waves set point 29-26. A kill by Bryan Simmons delayed the set as Pepperdine won 30-27 on a block.

In a marathon set three, Pepperdine held off six UCI set points to claim the 39-37 victory. The 39-37 score ties UCI’s fourth set versus USC for the longest set in the MPSF this season. The Waves used a kill by Carroll, an Anteater attack error and a kill by Cory Reicks to win the set.

In the fourth set, the Waves led 25-24 then used an Irvine service error, a kill by Matt McKee and a block to take the 27-24 lead. Rodnei Santos would end the set and match with a kill 30-26.

Rodnei Santos followed Carroll with 12 kills and a match-high 13 block assists. Kasey Crider had 61 set assists and 13 digs for the Waves.

For UCI, opposite Jon Steller had a career-high 32 kills. Middle blocker Kevin Wynne was the only other Anteater in double-digit kills with 10. Setter Ryan Ammerman had a career-high 64 set assists and libero Brent Asuka had a season-high 19 digs.

UCI snaps an eight-match winning streak and goes to 12-3 overall and 8-2 in MPSF play. Pepperdine improves to 9-1 and moves ahead of the Anteaters on the top of the MPSF standings with an 8-1 record.