MPSF Player of the year

[Eater]

Guest-chin said:

Do these selections mean that Kimo Tuyay is only the fourth best setter in the league? Two of the setters above him are out of the playoffs.
I guess being Freshman of the Year and leading his team to the National Championship doesn't mean crap.
Everyone has been saying he gets better every year.
I guess not.
I guess Leahy and his sidekick are not the only ones that don't give this guy any credit.
I know one guy that gives Kimo his props, Chris Marlowe, but then again he knows volleyball.

The awards are based on the individual players abilities, not his team. Tuyay simply isn't that good of a setter, and Hawaii is where it is because of its hitters, not its setter. 4th best in the league at best.

[Eater]

Fred said:

what about the coaches of the year? Wortman and Campbell did good jobs this year, but speraw took a team that wasnt supposed to be as good as either pacific or csun and did better than both of them. Tom Peterson is deserving of the award. Another name is Marv Dunphy, pepp started out a little rocky and turned into the favorite.

I thought that was a bit strange. My only thinking is that maybe he's getting the AVCA award for coach of the year(they do have such a thing, right?), and they gave the MPSF award to someone else, because he certainly deserves recognition for what he did with UCI. #1 in the nation? 10-0? A victory in the playoffs with a team everyone thought would be struggling at the very bottom of the league this year?

[Eater]

There seems to be a common theme here with people assuming that because a team did well, they automatically should have X number of players on 1st or 2nd team or whatever. If you can't specifically name a player who is better than those on a team above him, then you have no complaint. Some teams are more balanced than others, and not really have any incredible players even though they do well. Some might sub out a lot and never have a consistent group of dominating players, though many of them play very well at certain times. A team may have several very good players at a couple positions, but be very weak at a couple others and thus not do well.

[VBCrusin]

After reviewing the MPSF selections, I have some comments of my own:

I totally agree with the FIRST TEAM picks...if they were to take the court together, I'd love to see them play...question? Only 1 middle blocker?

I like the SECOND TEAM as well, but the setter pick is a little questionable. Don't get me wrong, I like BYU's Moreno, but both LB's Tyler Hildebrand and UH's Tuyay were #1 & # 2 in the nation in assists (Moreno was 12th). True, Tyler did get FOY, but I can't understand why he or Kimo wouldn't be a better choice there...Kimo, honorable mention? He deserved more.

THIRD TEAM...okay, Ty Tramblie (#3 in nation for assists)should be the setter but not in front of Hildebrand or Tuyay. The Libero should have been Pacific's Mike Gawlik, or SB's Aaron Mansfield...Shrader didn't even make the top 20 in the nation for digs.

AND, Pepperdine's Libero Ghiraj Coats, or Pep's setter John Mayer didn't even make honorable mention. That's hard to believe. In any event, CONGRATS to all the guys.

[Bookumdanoaloha]

I talked to Kimo, and he's honored to be recognized with the MPSF's Best. The Kid's got his ALL TIME AWARD - A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RING. Of course he hoping to get ANOTHER. There is some interesting recruiting news for the Warriors. Some Impact Recruits coming to the Islands. Stay Tuned. Bookumdanoaloha.

[HwnStunner01]

Impact recruits huh? Too bad your not talking about the women's team...

I'm OK with the selections. I have the same problems with some posters but still I believe it's a pretty good list.

Yenno, I've always liked Tuyay as a setter. He still struggles sometimes at setting the middles and getting them involve enough...but other than that I would say he's had a good year. He's been consistant. And I would rather have a championship ring then a 1st team all conference anyday.

[roy]

Eater said:

The awards are based on the individual players abilities, not his team. Tuyay simply isn't that good of a setter, and Hawaii is where it is because of its hitters, not its setter. 4th best in the league at best.

I agree. Tuyay isn't a fantastic setter but he gets the job done. I think its more that he is overshadowed by his hitters. But leading his team to a national championship means absolutely nothing. That was last year, and these are awards for 2003, only for the accomplishments that were done this season.

[AsianThug]

YAY COSTAS! SPOON!... ;D
nevermind...

i think for the most part kimo does what he needs to do and is always there...he's like a support for the team really...

[V]

Theocharidis is best of MPSF

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Soon after learning he was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's men's volleyball Player of the Year yesterday, University of Hawai'i opposite hitter Costas Theocharidis told a well-wisher, "Thanks, man," and then went about his business.
"It's nice, but who cares about it?" said Theocharidis, a 6-foot-3 senior from Greece. "Nobody cares about individual goals or awards. That's not why we came here."

The Warriors, who arrived in Los Angeles last night, meet Brigham Young tomorrow night in the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament.

The Warriors seek to win the tournament and earn the league's automatic berth in next week's final four, or advance to the NCAA tournament as the at-large team. They have never won the MPSF Tournament.

"We have one goal, and that's to win another national championship," Theocharidis said. "We set some priorities. First, we have to focus on BYU. We don't want to look too far ahead."

Theocharidis, who has a chance to become the school's first four-time first-team All-American when the national awards are announced next week, won the MPSF's top honor for the second time in his career.

He was named Player of the Year in 2001.

Theocharidis led the nation in hitting this season. He also became the first Warrior to amass 2,000 career kills.

Theocharidis, who will earn his bachelor's degree in December, will rejoin Greece's national team next spring. As host, Greece's volleyball team is assured a berth in the 2004 Olympics.

"Right now," Theocharidis said, "all I'm thinking about is my next match. I can't think about that other stuff now."

UH middle blocker Delano Thomas of Sacramento and outside hitter Tony Ching, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, were named to the second team.

Outside hitter Eyal Zimet, a senior from Israel, was selected to the third team.

"We're fortunate to have so many go-to players," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "Costas is in the hunt for the Player of the Year award every year, and Tony has emerged as another go-to player. That's a pretty good deal."

Wilton also praised Zimet, the team captain. Zimet is the Warriors' most accurate passer, as well as a reliable server and active defensive player.

During the team's mid-season slump, Zimet, despite suffering from back spasms, volunteered to play libero for the first time in his collegiate career.

"Eyal doesn't always get a lot of recognition, but people who really know volleyball can appreciate his game and what he does for us," Wilton said.

UH setter Kimo Tuyay, a junior from San Diego, received honorable mention.

"I fully expected all of those guys to gain some kind of honors," Wilton said. "They all contributed. It's been a team effort."

Middle blocker Brian Nordberg, who missed the first third of the season while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder, and libero Jake Muise, who regained his starting job Feb. 21, probably did not earn enough playing time to receive consideration.

The 12 MPSF head coaches chose the all-star teams.

A head coach was not allowed to vote for any of his players.

Top-ranked Pepperdine placed three players on the first team, led by middle blocker Brad Keenan, last year's national Player of the Year.

Jeff Campbell of Cal State Northridge, Tom Peterson of BYU and Joe Wortmann of Pacific shared Coach of the Year honors.

Setter Tyler Hildebrand of Long Beach State was chosen Freshman of the Year.

[sweetieVBfan]

stephen tsai said that nordberg and muise probably did not play enough games to garner accolades.

anyone one if toppel did for sure? i'm assuming the only count games played for the mpsf.

[vb14]

Absolutely preposterous that John Speraw didn't get coach of the year. He was the most deserving by far!!! Taking a team from never winning to having the best record in school history. Who does the voting anyway? The only way that this injustice can be remedied is if he is named AVCA coach of the year,

[bangdown]

100% agree that John Speraw deserved to win that award. He changed the whole blocking scheme for the team in the fall and in about a month took the team to #1 in the rankings for the first time ever....granted it wasn't for more than a couple weeks but UCI never fell below #8 all year! It's an absolute joke that Campbell got the nod over Speraw. Wortman is a great guy and I can see how he could garner some votes. Peterson is another very good coach and it is plain to see how he could get some votes but to think that Campbell was voted over Speraw is a complete JOKE!!!!

[chin ho]

vb crusin,

Is there stats that tell us which setter has the most blocks, blocks assisted and digs?
I'd like to see where Tuyay ranks in those catagories.

Eater,

Everyone knows (except you) that you can't be a great hitter if you don't get great sets.

[Eater]

Guest-chin said:

vb crusin,

Is there stats that tell us which setter has the most blocks, blocks assisted and digs?
I'd like to see where Tuyay ranks in those catagories.

Eater,

Everyone knows (except you) that you can't be a great hitter if you don't get great sets.

Nonsense. You can be a great hitter with nothing more than decent sets. There is at least one great hitter on almost every team in the league, by your non-logic, that would mean every team in the MPSF has a great setter deserving of a first team award.

[Makawao]

MPSF MATCHES ONLY
Hitting Pct. (Min. 3 TA per game)
School GP K E TA Pct.
HAW 81 1379 427 2658 .358
PEP 76 1255 345 2578 .353
BYU 83 1313 440 2553 .342
LBSU 85 1434 518 2778 .330
STAN 83 1334 439 2770 .323
PAC 83 1340 468 2773 .314
UCLA 78 1260 456 2623 .307
UCI 83 1329 495 2748 .303
CSUN 83 1305 490 2770 .294
UCSB 73 1107 488 2353 .263
USC 78 1079 543 2437 .220
UCSD 77 1122 574 2568 .213 Kills
School GP K Avg.
HAW 81 1379 17.02
LBSU 85 1434 16.87
PEP 76 1255 16.51
UCLA 78 1260 16.15
PAC 83 1340 16.14
STAN 83 1334 16.07
UCI 83 1329 16.01
BYU 83 1313 15.82
CSUN 83 1305 15.72
UCSB 73 1107 15.16
UCSD 77 1122 14.57
USC 78 1079 13.83

Blocking
School GP B BS Avg.
PEP 76 40 474 6.76
UCI 83 24 438 5.57
BYU 83 38 416 5.47
CSUN 83 89 364 5.46
STAN 83 46 375 5.07
HAW 81 40 351 4.83
UCLA 78 56 305 4.63
UCSB 73 34 288 4.41
UCSD 77 21 315 4.36
LBSU 85 23 342 4.29
PAC 83 42 302 4.14
USC 78 29 274 3.88
Aces
School GP A Avg.
HAW 81 111 1.370
UCI 83 112 1.349
BYU 83 105 1.265
PEP 76 88 1.158
PAC 83 93 1.120
UCSB 73 80 1.096
USC 78 84 1.077
UCSD 77 82 1.065
STAN 83 88 1.060
UCLA 78 76 .974
LBSU 85 72 .847
CSUN 83 60 .723

Digs
Player, School GP D Avg.
PEP 76 749 9.86
PAC 83 810 9.76
HAW 81 772 9.53
STAN 83 782 9.42
CSUN 83 768 9.25
LBSU 85 770 9.06
USC 78 670 8.59
UCLA 78 667 8.55
UCSD 77 654 8.49
BYU 83 703 8.47
UCI 83 688 8.29
UCSB 73 553 7.58
Assists
Player, School GP A Avg.
HAW 81 1298 16.02
LBSU 85 1360 16.00
UCI 83 1268 15.28
PAC 83 1267 15.27
PEP 76 1157 15.22
UCLA 78 1179 15.12
STAN 83 1245 15.00
BYU 83 1236 14.89
CSUN 83 1231 14.83
UCSB 73 1033 14.15
UCSD 77 1056 13.71
USC 78 1007 12.91

For MPSF matches Hawaii seems to be tops in all stat areas. Individually Pep players dominate the stats. Kimo has impressive stats for a setter in digs, blocks and block assist as compared to his teammates.