L to R: Ethan Champlin (20), Merrick McHenry (13), Ido David (16)
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
MVB Plays Long Beach in NCAA Semifinals Thursday
May 03, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK - The Bruin men's volleyball team heads to the NCAA Men's Collegiate Volleyball Championship in Fairfax, Va. looking to bring home its 20th NCAA title in the sport. Coach John Speraw's squad (29-2) earned the No. 1 seed and a bye into the semifinal round in the seven-team championship tournament, which is being hosted by George Mason University at the EagleBank Arena. The Bruins' championship quest will begin on Thursday, May 4 at 2 p.m. PT against Long Beach State (21-4) in a match which will be streamed by ncaa.com. The NCAA Men's Collegiate National Championship match is set for a 2 p.m. PT start on Saturday May 6 and will be televised by ESPN2.
• First Serve vs. Long Beach State (Thu. May 4): 2 p.m. PT at George Mason
Live Stream: ncaa.com
if UCLA wins on May 4
• First Serve vs. Penn State / Hawai'i winner (Sat. May 6): 2 p.m. PT at George Mason
TV/Video: EPSN2
2023 MILESTONES -- This is UCLA's first appearance in back-to-back NCAA MVB Tournaments since 2005 and 2006 (UCLA advanced to the semifinals in the 2022 event). The Bruins produced an unbeaten conference season (12-0) for the first time since 1995 (when John Speraw was a Bruin player and team went 19-0). UCLA went on to capture its first MPSF Tournament crown since the 2006 season. On the heels of a 22-5 2022 campaign, the Bruins registered its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2012 and 2013. The total of 29 wins in a season is the most since 2000 when UCLA went 29-5 (the last time UCLA won at least 30 matches in a season was in 1995, 31-1). UCLA's 3-0 win over Stanford in the MPSF Tournament Championship match in Palo Alto was the 20th sweep of the season which is the most since the 1998 team also had 20 (the school record is 25). John Speraw won his 400th match as a men's collegiate head coach (he was also head coach at UC Irvine where he won three NCAA titles 2012, 2009, 2007) and his 200th match as UCLA's head man earlier this season in matches against UC Irvine. The AVCA named seven Bruins to its All-America teams which marked the most in program history. John Speraw became the first Bruin head coach to be recognized as the AVCA National Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year since Al Scates in 1998.
VERSUS THE FIELD -- UCLA has compiled a record of 7-2 in 2023 matches versus the teams in this year's championship field ...
(1-0 vs. Ohio State; 0-0 vs. King, 2-0 vs. Long Beach State, 3-0 vs. Grand Canyon, 1-1 vs. Penn State, 0-1 vs. Hawai'i).
vs. Penn State: UCLA split with Penn State this season ... losing in State College in four sets at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge and winning in five sets at the Outrigger Invitational hosted by Hawai'i. Penn State out hit UCLA .317 to .295 in the loss and the Bruins out hit the Nittany Lions in the win .256 to .250. Over the two matches, Penn State enjoyed a 13-9 edge in aces and a 21.0 to 20.0 margin in blocks.
vs. Long Beach: UCLA swept a pair of matches in the home-and-home series this season. The Bruins out hit the Beach .551 (season-high mark) to .190 in the Westwood win. UCLA out aced the Beach 12 to 6 over the two contests and won the blocking battle 19.5 to 13.0.
vs. Hawai'i: UCLA lost a four-set decision in the Outrigger Hotels Invitational this season hosted by UH. Hawai'i out hit the Bruins .273 to .268 while UCLA had more aces (6 to 5) and blocks (11.5 to 9.5).
UCLA'S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY -- This marks the 29th appearance by the Bruins in the NCAA MVB Championship event (55-10 record) ... UCLA last won the NCAA title in 2006 ... UCLA has won 19 previous NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships overall -- 2006, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993,1989, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970. UCLA has made three previous NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament appearances under head coach John Speraw --- 2022 NCAA at UCLA: UCLA d. Pepperdine (3-1) in Opening Match and lost to Long Beach (2-3) in the semifinals, 2018 NCAA at UCLA: UCLA d. Harvard (3-1) in Opening Match; d. BYU (3-1) in semifinals; lost to Long Beach (2-3) in championship; 2016 NCAA at Penn St.: UCLA lost to Ohio State (2-3) in semifinals.
CONFERENCE RECORD CHECK -- UCLA finished the non-league portion of its schedule with records of 10-1 vs. the Big West Conference; 3-1 vs. EIVA; 2-0 vs. MIVA.
UCLA AND RANKINGS -- UCLA enters the NCAA Tournament at No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and was listed No. 1 in the most recent Off the Block Media Poll. The Bruins earned the No. 2 spot in the pre-season AVCA poll for the fourth time in the past five seasons. UCLA has now been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll at some point in 7 of the last 8 seasons (not in 2021). The Bruins finished the 2022 season listed fourth in the final AVCA poll after being as high as No. 1 for nine weeks during the year. UCLA has ended a season ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll a record nine times (1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995,1996, 1998, 2000, 2006) over the years.
TEAM NCAA RANKING NOTES -- UCLA enters the Championship leading the nation in blocks (2.89) and hitting percentage (.381). UCLA is third in ace average (1.97, has six double-digit ace matches in 2023, including a school-record tying 18 against UCSD (1/6) and three players ranked among the top 31 in the nation in ace average in Andrew Rowan-T8th 0.49, Ido David-20th 0.42 Ethan Champlin-31st 0.36). The Bruins are also listed in the top 10 nationally in set assists (2nd-12.44), kills (2nd-13.11) and opponent hitting % (9th .210, with 14 opponents held below .200 this season).
PLAYER/COACH NOTES -- Merrick McHenry was named MVP of the MPSF Tournament after hitting over .800 with 20 kills in the two UCLA matches ... Andrew Rowan was named the AVCA Newcomer of the Year, the first Bruin player to earn the honor since current assistant coach Brandon Taliaferro was named Freshman of the Year in 1997 ... John Speraw has compiled a 9-4 record in NCAA MVB Tournament play (2006-lost in semis to Penn State while at UC Irvine; 2007-won NCAA title over Purdue Fort Wayne while at UCI; 2009-won NCAA title over USC while at UCI; 2012-won NCAA title over USC while at UCI; 2016-lost in semis to Ohio State while at UCLA; 2018-lost to Long Beach State in NCAA title match while at UCLA; 2022-lost in semis to Long Beach State while at UCLA ... Merrick McHenry was a first-team AVCA All-America selection and has hit at least .500 in 19 matches this season ... Ethan Champlin was named first-team AVCA All-America and has 13 double-digit kill matches this season ... Ido David was named first-team AVCA All-A and leads the team with 19 double-digit kill matches, including four 20-kill efforts ... Alex Knight was a first-team AVCA All-A selection and has double-digit kills in 12 matches ... Andrew Rowan, a first-team AVCA All-A and the AVCA Freshman of the Year, has fired at least one ace in 19 of the last 20 matches and his 49 aces led all MPSF players this season ... Guy Genis has hit at least .500 in 14 matches this season and was chosen honorable mention AVCA All-A ... Troy Gooch was selected honorable mention AVCA All-A ... UCLA added two new assistant coaches during the off-season, both former Bruin players, in Nick Vogel (2009-12) and Brandon Taliaferro (1997-2000).
• First Serve vs. Long Beach State (Thu. May 4): 2 p.m. PT at George Mason
Live Stream: ncaa.com
if UCLA wins on May 4
• First Serve vs. Penn State / Hawai'i winner (Sat. May 6): 2 p.m. PT at George Mason
TV/Video: EPSN2
2023 MILESTONES -- This is UCLA's first appearance in back-to-back NCAA MVB Tournaments since 2005 and 2006 (UCLA advanced to the semifinals in the 2022 event). The Bruins produced an unbeaten conference season (12-0) for the first time since 1995 (when John Speraw was a Bruin player and team went 19-0). UCLA went on to capture its first MPSF Tournament crown since the 2006 season. On the heels of a 22-5 2022 campaign, the Bruins registered its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2012 and 2013. The total of 29 wins in a season is the most since 2000 when UCLA went 29-5 (the last time UCLA won at least 30 matches in a season was in 1995, 31-1). UCLA's 3-0 win over Stanford in the MPSF Tournament Championship match in Palo Alto was the 20th sweep of the season which is the most since the 1998 team also had 20 (the school record is 25). John Speraw won his 400th match as a men's collegiate head coach (he was also head coach at UC Irvine where he won three NCAA titles 2012, 2009, 2007) and his 200th match as UCLA's head man earlier this season in matches against UC Irvine. The AVCA named seven Bruins to its All-America teams which marked the most in program history. John Speraw became the first Bruin head coach to be recognized as the AVCA National Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year since Al Scates in 1998.
VERSUS THE FIELD -- UCLA has compiled a record of 7-2 in 2023 matches versus the teams in this year's championship field ...
(1-0 vs. Ohio State; 0-0 vs. King, 2-0 vs. Long Beach State, 3-0 vs. Grand Canyon, 1-1 vs. Penn State, 0-1 vs. Hawai'i).
vs. Penn State: UCLA split with Penn State this season ... losing in State College in four sets at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge and winning in five sets at the Outrigger Invitational hosted by Hawai'i. Penn State out hit UCLA .317 to .295 in the loss and the Bruins out hit the Nittany Lions in the win .256 to .250. Over the two matches, Penn State enjoyed a 13-9 edge in aces and a 21.0 to 20.0 margin in blocks.
vs. Long Beach: UCLA swept a pair of matches in the home-and-home series this season. The Bruins out hit the Beach .551 (season-high mark) to .190 in the Westwood win. UCLA out aced the Beach 12 to 6 over the two contests and won the blocking battle 19.5 to 13.0.
vs. Hawai'i: UCLA lost a four-set decision in the Outrigger Hotels Invitational this season hosted by UH. Hawai'i out hit the Bruins .273 to .268 while UCLA had more aces (6 to 5) and blocks (11.5 to 9.5).
UCLA'S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY -- This marks the 29th appearance by the Bruins in the NCAA MVB Championship event (55-10 record) ... UCLA last won the NCAA title in 2006 ... UCLA has won 19 previous NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships overall -- 2006, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993,1989, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970. UCLA has made three previous NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament appearances under head coach John Speraw --- 2022 NCAA at UCLA: UCLA d. Pepperdine (3-1) in Opening Match and lost to Long Beach (2-3) in the semifinals, 2018 NCAA at UCLA: UCLA d. Harvard (3-1) in Opening Match; d. BYU (3-1) in semifinals; lost to Long Beach (2-3) in championship; 2016 NCAA at Penn St.: UCLA lost to Ohio State (2-3) in semifinals.
CONFERENCE RECORD CHECK -- UCLA finished the non-league portion of its schedule with records of 10-1 vs. the Big West Conference; 3-1 vs. EIVA; 2-0 vs. MIVA.
UCLA AND RANKINGS -- UCLA enters the NCAA Tournament at No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and was listed No. 1 in the most recent Off the Block Media Poll. The Bruins earned the No. 2 spot in the pre-season AVCA poll for the fourth time in the past five seasons. UCLA has now been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AVCA poll at some point in 7 of the last 8 seasons (not in 2021). The Bruins finished the 2022 season listed fourth in the final AVCA poll after being as high as No. 1 for nine weeks during the year. UCLA has ended a season ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll a record nine times (1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995,1996, 1998, 2000, 2006) over the years.
TEAM NCAA RANKING NOTES -- UCLA enters the Championship leading the nation in blocks (2.89) and hitting percentage (.381). UCLA is third in ace average (1.97, has six double-digit ace matches in 2023, including a school-record tying 18 against UCSD (1/6) and three players ranked among the top 31 in the nation in ace average in Andrew Rowan-T8th 0.49, Ido David-20th 0.42 Ethan Champlin-31st 0.36). The Bruins are also listed in the top 10 nationally in set assists (2nd-12.44), kills (2nd-13.11) and opponent hitting % (9th .210, with 14 opponents held below .200 this season).
PLAYER/COACH NOTES -- Merrick McHenry was named MVP of the MPSF Tournament after hitting over .800 with 20 kills in the two UCLA matches ... Andrew Rowan was named the AVCA Newcomer of the Year, the first Bruin player to earn the honor since current assistant coach Brandon Taliaferro was named Freshman of the Year in 1997 ... John Speraw has compiled a 9-4 record in NCAA MVB Tournament play (2006-lost in semis to Penn State while at UC Irvine; 2007-won NCAA title over Purdue Fort Wayne while at UCI; 2009-won NCAA title over USC while at UCI; 2012-won NCAA title over USC while at UCI; 2016-lost in semis to Ohio State while at UCLA; 2018-lost to Long Beach State in NCAA title match while at UCLA; 2022-lost in semis to Long Beach State while at UCLA ... Merrick McHenry was a first-team AVCA All-America selection and has hit at least .500 in 19 matches this season ... Ethan Champlin was named first-team AVCA All-America and has 13 double-digit kill matches this season ... Ido David was named first-team AVCA All-A and leads the team with 19 double-digit kill matches, including four 20-kill efforts ... Alex Knight was a first-team AVCA All-A selection and has double-digit kills in 12 matches ... Andrew Rowan, a first-team AVCA All-A and the AVCA Freshman of the Year, has fired at least one ace in 19 of the last 20 matches and his 49 aces led all MPSF players this season ... Guy Genis has hit at least .500 in 14 matches this season and was chosen honorable mention AVCA All-A ... Troy Gooch was selected honorable mention AVCA All-A ... UCLA added two new assistant coaches during the off-season, both former Bruin players, in Nick Vogel (2009-12) and Brandon Taliaferro (1997-2000).
Players Mentioned
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