UCSB over BYU in 4

[Rocky]

From BYU's website:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2005) -- The BYU men's volleyball team dropped its first MPSF match of the season to UC Santa Barbara, 26-30, 27-30, 32-30, 29-31, Friday night at Robertson Gym.

BYU Coach Tom Peterson noted that errors and poor serving were what allowed Santa Barbara to control the match.

"We had too many errors to win against an very good team tonight," Peterson said. "The worst thing you can do is miss your serves. The next worst thing is serve an easy serve. We did both and that allowed them to get points at critical times."

The Cougars struggled early in the match and never recovered as the Gauchos out hit BYU in every game. The Cougars hit just .147 and .229 in games one and two compared to .385 and .375 for Santa Barbara.

BYU managed to capture a close game three but the Gauchos remained hot and came back in the fourth to hit .441 and take the game, 31-29, and win the match.

Freshman outside hitter Ivan Perez was solid for the Cougars, finishing with 17 kills while hitting at a .361 clip (17-4-36) and picking up a career-high 13 digs. Junior Victor Batista, who struggled with hitting errors, also had 17 kills and a team-high six blocks.

Despite limited opportunities, middles Russell Holmes and Michael Burke combined to have a strong match. Together the pair notched 16 kills and hit a blistering .625 (16-1-24). Holmes, a freshman, hit a career-high .818 (9-0-11) on the night.

Santa Barbara went to its big gun, Evan Patak, all night. The 6-8 opposite hitter had his second 30-kill match of the season, registering 32 while hitting .418 (32-9-55). He also added five aces. Peterson said the Cougars let Patak do too much in the match.

"I think we let Patak just beat us in a lot of ways, both hitting and serving," Peterson said.

Bryan Berman and Michael Kennedy also finished with double figure kills, contributing 11 and 10 respectively.

For the match, the Cougars hit .281 (67-29-135) while the Gauchos had a hitting percentage of .405 (68-16-131). BYU added 10 aces, 35 digs, and 8.5 blocks.

Despite the poor performance, Peterson noted he is confident his team will pull through and become a very good team.

"We'll adjust and get better," Peterson said. "It's tough to lose your league opener to a team you can beat. Our learning curve is pretty steep because of so many new people. We'll get it together and be a pretty good team at some point. We just need to hurry up and get there."

The Cougars, now 4-2 overall and 0-1 in MPSF play, will be back in action again tomorrow night against Santa Barbara at 5 p.m. PST (6 p.m. MST).

[OC4]

no way....

[matchpt]

From the UCSB website:

Tenth-Ranked Gauchos Upset No. 2 BYU, Remain Undefeated in MPSF Play
It was a huge victory for 10th-ranked USB as it downed defending National Champion and Second-ranked BYU.

Jan. 21, 2005

Santa Barbara, Calif. - It was a huge victory for the 10th-ranked UC Santa Barbara men's volleyball team as it downed defending National Champion and Second-ranked Brigham Young, 3-1, to remain undefeated in MPSF play. All-American outside hitter Evan Patak put away a season-high 32 kills to led the Gauchos, improving them to 3-0 in conference and 3-3 overall. With the loss the Cougars are now 4-2 on the season a 0-1 in the MPSF.

Strong defensive play at the net and potent offensive attack paced tenth-ranked UCSB to the upset victory as the Gauchos out-blocked, 12.0 to 8.5, and out-hit, .405 to .281, BYU in the four-game match.

UCSB jumped out to an early 7-2 in game one with four consecutive points coming off of Patak's serve, he finished the night with a match-high 32 services on the night. The Gauchos' lead remained at five points, taking the game to 16-11, before the Cougars went on a 13-3 run to go up 24-20. Patak ended BYU's run with one of his six kills in the first set, and then went up to stuff a pair of Victor Batista attacks, combining with Michael Kennedy on the second and bringing UCSB back within one. Following a pair of sideouts with the score now at 25-24 Cougars, Patak once again took to the service line as the Gauchos rattled off five straight, including a pair of Patak aces, to run the score to 29-25 in favor of the hosts. UCSB finished off game one 30-26 when Kennedy picked up his second block of the game, once again denying Batista. Kennedy ended the night with a match-high six blocks, including two solos.

BYU responded in by opening up a 3-0 lead to start game two, but the Gauchos would eventually knot the score at 11-11 amidst a five-point run that saw UCSB go up 13-11. The Santa Barbara lead proved to be short lived as the Cougars fought back with a four-point streak, once again having it end as a result of a Patak kill. But BYU's 15-14 lead would be its last of game two. Although the rest of the game remained close, tied as late as 23-23, UCSB retained its advantage, opening it up to three points, taking game two 30-27 when sophomore outside hitter Bryan Berman hit through the Brigham Young block. Berman finished the night with a team second-best eleven kills.

The third and possible final game of the match stayed extremely close with neither side ever taking more than a two-point lead. BYU took a 23-21 advantage late and it appeared as if they might run away the game, but UCSB rallied to tie the score at 25-25. Both sides traded a number of sideouts, before the Gauchos reached match-point at 29-28, but the Cougars refused to go down without a fight, rolling off three straight points to take game three 32-30. Freshman outside hitter Ivan Perez led the BYU attack with eight kills and also scooped up a game-high seven digs.

Game four started just like game three ended with both teams trading sideouts, but with the score knotted at 3-3, the Cougars went on a 7-1 run opening up a six point lead. And it appeared as if BYU was going to send the match into a decisive game five as they continued to hold their lead, eventually increasing it to seven points at 21-14. But the Gauchos' man of the match, Evan Patak wasn't going to have any such thing. After head coach Ken Preston subbed in junior setter Bart Kowalski and freshman outside hitter Aaron Richman, Patak went on an onslaught, pacing the Gauchos to a 13-3 run. Of UCSB's 13 points it scored en route to taking a three point advantage, seven came off the hands of Patak, including five kills and two service aces. With the Gauchos now up 27-24, BYU slowing crept back to tie the match at 29-29, but once again it was Patak who stepped up. Putting away a shot down the right side for the side out, giving Kowalski the serve for the match at 30-29. Perez was unable to handle Kowalski's serve and his dig came floating back over the net, to an awaiting Patak who slammed it home, straight down, giving UCSB the 31-29 win, and the match.

In addition to his 32 kills, Patak's five aces, and 32 serves were also match-bests. He also led the team with nine digs and finished second hitting .418. Kennedy led the Gauchos hitting .474 with ten total kills. Senior Nate Wack's led the team, and the match, with 31 service receptions, while senior libero Aaron Mansfield was second on the squad with 28.

The Cougars were led by Perez and Batista who each ended the night with 17 kills, but it was Perez' .361 hitting percentage that stood out compared to Batista's .044. And Rob Neilson dished out a match-high 59 set assists for BYU, while Dane Jenson paced the UCSB with 42.

The Gauchos and Cougars will square off once again tomorrow night at 5:05 p.m. in UCSB's Robertson Gymnasium.

[banthony2]

UCSB is on one right now. I wouldn't have expected this without Wiens in the lineup. Let's see if they learn to slow down Patak at sometime. It reminds me of Touzinsky last year. They guy hits 40 kills against the Cougars. The diference is BYU still won. Though BYU had more established guns last year. I am liking Perez a lot but he is still young. Even Moreno as a freshman looked incredibly green. In any case hopefully the serving will pick up by tonight and especially by the time the Bruins come into town next week.

[vballguy2001]

I don't know if it was because UCSB is on a roll, or if BYU is struggling. This is a really young team, one of the worst passing BYU teams I have ever seen, and one of the worst blocking BYU teams I have ever seen.

I hope it is just because of the inexperience, but if it doesn't get better half way through the season then it is going to be a long long LONG season.

[banthony2]

I say they are on one right now because they also beat LBSU. LBSU beat CSUN and killed UOP (who is having a tough time but almost beat Pepperdine). Again all of this without a returning starter at JNT OH in Jake. I really agree with you about BYU's passing and blocking. Against CBU on Friday it was nonexistent.

[future]

BYU has setting issues also. I predict a change before the end of the year.

[vballguy2001]

They won't change their setter. who are they going to put in for him?? They don't have anyone else. Anyways, their setting is the least of their problems. Their passing is horrible. It is hard being a good setter when their passes are all over the place making the offense very predictable. Until they start passing better, get off Rob.

[future]

If this is the trend of passing for BYU they better get better at it and Rob needs to improve (fast) in setting out of system. Maybe the Paterson kid can help? I didn't say permanentely.

WE have already seen setter changes, not permanent mind you, with Pepperdine (Mayer for Winder), PSU (the freshman setter for O'delll) and you can bet UCLA will throw some changes at that position with Acevado + Gonzales at some point this year.

Sorry, that position is not set in stone for BYU in my opinion.

[vballguy2001]

There is no way Patterson will be put into the setting role. He doesn't even compete with Rob. Besides he doesn't even play that position right now. He has been working all year at Opposite. That would be a severe error. Rob is the best setter they have right now. There isn't a guy right now in that gym that can compete. (which is sad). Unless BYU can find a magical loop whole and get Moreno back. As I see it it is Rob or that Congelier kid. And Rob is way above that kid right now.

They are stuck with Rob, and yes he needs to get better at setting out of system just as much as the passers need to learn how to do the most fundamental thing of volleyball. PASS.

I think setting is the least of their worries right now.

[donkeykong]

Rob is there to stay. NO question about that.