University Southern California Trojans
USC
Pepperdine
Pepperdine Beats USC In MPSF Men's Volleyball Semis
April 28, 2000 | Men's Volleyball
April 28, 2000
MALIBU, Ca. - Andre Breuer had 27 kills and 9 blocks to lead the No. 2-ranked Pepperdine men's volleyball team to a 4-15, 15-13, 15-12, 17-15 win over top-ranked USC in a semifinal match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship on Thursday (April 27) at Pepperdine.
The Waves, who improved to 22-4 overall, host No. 3 UCLA in the MPSF title match on Saturday (April 29) at 7 p.m. The winner will get an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship May 4 and 6 in Fort Wayne, Ind., to compete with the champions of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and an at-large team.
USC fell to 22-5 overall and now must wait until Sunday to see if the NCAA awards it the at-large berth into the Final Four. The loser of Saturday's MPSF championship match also will stake a claim for the at-large berth.
Brook Billings had a match-best 28 kills, plus 7 digs and 5 blocks, for the Trojans, while teammate Eli Fairfield had 22 kills and 9 digs, Beau Rawi had 16 kills while hitting .583, Trevor Julian had 13 kills while hitting .455 and Mark Dusharme had 9 blocks.
For Pepperdine, Keith Barnett added 18 kills and 8 digs, Donny Killian had 16 kills (hitting .800) and Scott Wong had 15 kills.
It was Pepperdine's third win in three tries over the Trojans in 2000.
USC jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first game and never looked back, running off the final 5 points to close out that game.
The second game was tight throughout, with the scored tied six times--including at 13-13--before the Waves scored the final 2 points.
In the third game, Pepperdine battled back from a 7-4 deficit by scoring 8 consecutive points to go up 13-7. But USC fought back by going on a 5-0 run to get back within a point, 13-12. The Waves then scored 2 quick points to win that game.
USC fell behind 4-0 to open the fourth game, but caught the Waves at 7-7. Troy then pulled ahead 8-7, Pepperdine next ran off 4 points in a row to go up 11-8, then USC went back up 12-11 before the Waves got a 14-12 lead.
USC withstood 15 match points before going up 15-14. But Pepperdine reeled off the next 3 points to win the match.
In Thursday's other MPSF semifinal match, UCLA beat No. 6 Loyola Marymount, 15-8, 15-11, 13-15, 15-12.
Between matches, the All-MPSF team was announced. USC setter Donald Suxho was named the MPSF Player of the Year. Billings joined him on the All-MPSF first team, while Fairfield was a second team choice.
