Pepperdine pre-season match

[Hawaii 5-0]

From the University of Saskatchewan Mens VB site:

BRIAN MALLARD INVITATIONAL KICKED OFF TONIGHT

PEPPERDINE COMES OUT ON TOP IN PRE-TOURNAMENT MATCH

SASKATOON SK - Pepperdine University travelled a long way from sunny California to make it for the annual Huskie Men's Volleyball tournament, the Brian Mallard Invitational. It was well worth the trip, though, as they defeated the CIS No. 3 ranked Huskies in four straight sets at a pre-tournament match tonight at the PAC.

The Pepperdine Waves came from behind in the first set, with the Huskies up 19-15, to win 25-21. The second set would be another 25-21 victory for the Americans, finishing off the green and white dogs with scores of 25/13 and 25/23. Kill leaders were All-American Player of the Year Sean Rooney (Wheaton IL, 4th yr) for Pepperdine, and Gavin Little (Fairview AB, 3rd yr) for Saskatchewan.

"We had lots of young guys out there," commented Huskie Head Coach Brian Gavlas. "We put Adam [McTavish] on left side, and he did well. It's good to know we have options if we need." The first-year from Asquith SK recorded 4 kills and 1 set and left side.

"Their energies are focused on the tournament," said Waves Head Coach Marv Dunphy on the Huskies performance. "The ball bounced our way. We are just honoured to be here. It's a great opportunity for us to play some matches in preparing for our season."

The Huskies have already defeated the Waves this year, at the Husky Dino Cup in Calgary. The two teams will meet again at the Brian Mallard Invitational on Saturday, January 1st at 8PM at the PAC.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 1
6:00PM – Calgary vs Winnipeg
8:00PM – Saskatchewan vs Pepperdine

Sunday, January 2
12:00PM – Winnipeg vs Pepperdine
2:00PM – Saskatchewan vs Calgary
6:00PM – Calgary vs Pepperdine
8:00PM – Saskatchewan vs Winnipeg

Monday, January 3
6:00PM – CONSOLATION FINAL
8:00PM – CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

[Hawaii 5-0]

BATTLE TO THE END

HUSKIES COME OUT ON TOP

1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Saskatchewan Huskies (3) 25 13 29 25
Pepperdine Waves (1) 23 25 27 21

The third-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies obviously learned from last night's 4-set loss to the visiting Pepperdine University Waves, as they were the victors tonight at the PAC, winning 3 sets to 1. Players of the game were All-American Player of the Year Outside Hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton IL, 4th yr) for the Waves and Left Side Mark Dodds (Lucky Lake SK, 4th yr).

"We are playing inconsistent," said Huskies Head Coach Brian Gavlas following his team's win. "We are giving up a lot of runs, but we battled hard despite those runs." In the second set, which the Huskies suffered a huge and also their only defeat to Pepperdine tonight, the green & white Dogs gave up a run of four twice.

"If we can execute and not give up, we have a good chance of winning. It's a big match tomorrow and we want to be in the final," said Gavlas.

Between the second and third set, a special presentation was made recognizing all the Huskie Men's Volleyball CIS National Championship teams. Former players were in attendance from the '87, '99 and '04 teams. Coach Gavlas was a member of the '87 team, in which he was named MVP that year.

The 1-0 Huskies take on the seventh-ranked 1-0 University of Calgary Dinos on Sunday, January 2nd at 2PM, while the 0-1 Waves play the 0-1 University of Winnipeg Wesmen at 12PM.

[Hawaii 5-0]

PEPPERDINE DEFEATS WINNIPEG

Brian Mallard Invitational
Men's Volleyball Tournament
January 1 - 3, 2005

1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Pepperdine Waves (3) 25 25 19 25
Winnipeg Wesmen (1) 22 21 25 18

Players of the Game:
Pepperdine - Setter Jonathan Winder (Irvine CA, 1st yr)
Winnipeg - Setter Dustin Addison-Schneider (Brandon MB, 2nd yr)

[Hawaii 5-0]

PEPPERDINE AND SASKATCHEWAN WILL MEET AGAIN!

WAVES DEFEAT DINOS TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP

1st 2nd 3rd
Pepperdine Waves (3) 28 25 25
Calgary Dinos (0) 26 22 22

Players of the Game:
Waves - Setter John Mayer (Thousand Oaks CA, 4th yr)
Dinos - Middle Sean Kendal (Kimberley BC, 5th yr)

The 2-0 CIS third-ranked Huskies play the 0-2 ninth-ranked Winnipeg Wesmen at 8PM tonight. The two final matches of the Brian Mallard Invitational men's volleyball tournament will take place Monday, January 3rd: Consolation Final at 6PM, Championship Final at 8PM.

[Hawaii 5-0]

HUSKIES FALL SHORT AT BRIAN MALLARD INVITATIONAL

PEPPERDINE FLY HOME WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY

SASKATOON SK - In a hard-fought battle, the defending national champion No. 3 University of Saskatchewan Huskies didn't quite have enough tonight in the Brian Mallard Invitational Championship Finals. The visiting American team Pepperdine University Waves will fly back home with the tournament title under their belts.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Pepperdine Waves (3) 25 25 10 25
Saskatchewan Huskies (1) 22 22 25 23

Huskies Head Coach Brian Gavlas commented on the tournament's highlight match: "It was just a good match. We didn't pass float serves well in the first two sets, and [Sean] Rooney [Pepperdine's star player] had a good serving run. In the third set, we didn't give up those runs. And the fourth was a good battle, with good defense. We fought hard."

TOURNAMENT ALL-STARS
CALGARY - Eric von Engelbrechten, Power, Airdrie AB, 4th yr
WINNIPEG - Jarrod Small, Middle, Brandon MB, 4th yr
SASKATCHEWAN - Darren Dove, Middle, Biggar SK, 4th yr
PEPPERDINE - Sean Rooney, Outside Hitter, Wheaton IL, 4th yr
PEPPERDINE - Tom Hulse, Middle Blocker, Evanston IL, 2nd yr
PEPPERDINE - Jonathan Winder, Setter, Irvine CA, 1st yr

TOP OF THE BARREL
Eric Green, Saskatchewan, Left-Side, Powell River BC, 3rd yr

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Mark Dodds, Saskatchewan, Left-Side, Lucky Lake SK, 4th yr

[mvbdad]

Thanks for the updates 5-0. I know I'm a little late , but just read these. Wow , if Hulse can step up , the middle could be big at Pepperdine this year. Go Waves!!!

[roy]

It sounds like Mayer isn't the setter for Pepperdine anymore. I am a little confused on what they are doing. I read on the Pepperdine athletic website that Mayer was going to move to libero and Ka was going to outside hitter. But based on their match stats, Ka is still libero and Mayer is hitting (opposite I assume).

Rooney is going to need a lot of help, as teams will start to load up on him. The middles for Pepperdine will be vital. Winder sounds like he is holding his own and the passing will be fine with Ka in the back. Dunphy has the potential to put up a huge block.

[palo]

Ok now I'm confused... Mayer is hitting and Hein, Hulse, and Parfitt are all playing. That's two setters and three middles!! Who is starting for these guys and in what positions? Rooney is outside right? So who is the other OH and Opp?