All-Americans Micah Ma'a (13) and Daenan Gyimah (16) return for UCLA.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
MVB Tops Pre-Season MPSF Coaches Poll
December 13, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
UCLA holds the No. 1 spot in the 2019 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' poll, collecting the maximum total of 36 points and six first-place votes. This is the first year since 2009 the Bruins are favored in the conference coaches' poll. UCLA reached the NCAA title match last year after finishing second in both the conference regular season and tournament, and returns several key players from that team. Back are first-team All-Americans Daenan Gyimah in the middle and Micah Ma'a at setter, in addition to all-conference Dylan Missry an outside hitter.
Defending MPSF Champion and national semifinalist BYU placed second in the poll, picking up 28 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Cougars return 14 players, including 2018 AVCA and MPSF Newcomer of the Year, and All-American Hitter Gabi Garcia Fernandez, as well as All-MPSF Middle Felipe de Brito Ferreira. Pepperdine was picked third, close behind with 26 points, as two-time All-American Hitter and reigning MPSF Player of the Year David Wieczorek is back, as are all-conference selections Michael Wexter (OH/Opp), Max Chamberlain (middle), and Robert Mullahey (setter).
Stanford sits in the middle of the pack with 21 points. The Cardinal welcomes back All-American Opposite Jaylen Jasper and All-MPSF Middle Kyler Presho within a group of five returning starters. USC collected 16 points for fifth-place, as several all-conference hitters return in Jack Wyett, Gianluca Grasso, and Ryan Moss from an MPSF Semifinalist team. Concordia (14 points) and Grand Canyon (6 points) round out the poll. The Eagles finished fourth in their first year in the conference last year, reaching the MPSF Semifinals. Middle Hunter Howell, setter Chandler Gibb, and outside Raymond Barsemian are back from an all-conference season. The Antelopes, also heading into their second year in the MPSF, return nine players from an 18-win season.
Each MPSF team has 12 conference matches on its 2019 schedule, featuring a home and away against each opponent. The MPSF Championship Tournament begins with seeds two, three, and four hosting a quarterfinal match on April 13. The conference semifinals are on April 18, on the home floor of the No. 1 seed. The top seed will host the lowest available seed that night in the second match. The MPSF Championship match is on April 20, contested at the semifinal site, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line (May 2-4 at Long Beach State).
The Bruins will open the 2019 season on January 2 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom against Princeton. UCLA starts MPSF play on February 7 at home against Stanford. For tickets to UCLA men's volleyball matches click HERE.
2019 MPSF Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. UCLA (6)ย 36
2. BYU (1) 28
3. Pepperdine 26
4. Stanford 21
5. USC 16
6. Concordia, Irvine 14
7. Grand Canyon 6
Defending MPSF Champion and national semifinalist BYU placed second in the poll, picking up 28 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Cougars return 14 players, including 2018 AVCA and MPSF Newcomer of the Year, and All-American Hitter Gabi Garcia Fernandez, as well as All-MPSF Middle Felipe de Brito Ferreira. Pepperdine was picked third, close behind with 26 points, as two-time All-American Hitter and reigning MPSF Player of the Year David Wieczorek is back, as are all-conference selections Michael Wexter (OH/Opp), Max Chamberlain (middle), and Robert Mullahey (setter).
Stanford sits in the middle of the pack with 21 points. The Cardinal welcomes back All-American Opposite Jaylen Jasper and All-MPSF Middle Kyler Presho within a group of five returning starters. USC collected 16 points for fifth-place, as several all-conference hitters return in Jack Wyett, Gianluca Grasso, and Ryan Moss from an MPSF Semifinalist team. Concordia (14 points) and Grand Canyon (6 points) round out the poll. The Eagles finished fourth in their first year in the conference last year, reaching the MPSF Semifinals. Middle Hunter Howell, setter Chandler Gibb, and outside Raymond Barsemian are back from an all-conference season. The Antelopes, also heading into their second year in the MPSF, return nine players from an 18-win season.
Each MPSF team has 12 conference matches on its 2019 schedule, featuring a home and away against each opponent. The MPSF Championship Tournament begins with seeds two, three, and four hosting a quarterfinal match on April 13. The conference semifinals are on April 18, on the home floor of the No. 1 seed. The top seed will host the lowest available seed that night in the second match. The MPSF Championship match is on April 20, contested at the semifinal site, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line (May 2-4 at Long Beach State).
The Bruins will open the 2019 season on January 2 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom against Princeton. UCLA starts MPSF play on February 7 at home against Stanford. For tickets to UCLA men's volleyball matches click HERE.
2019 MPSF Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. UCLA (6)ย 36
2. BYU (1) 28
3. Pepperdine 26
4. Stanford 21
5. USC 16
6. Concordia, Irvine 14
7. Grand Canyon 6
Players Mentioned
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