April 21, 2001
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Despite 21 kills and a .741 hitting percentage from senior middle blocker Brett Youngberg (Surrey, B.C., Canada/Elgin Park Secondary), the fifth-ranked Stanford University men's volleyball team dropped a 27-30, 30-23, 30-22, 27-30, 20-18 heartbreaker to fourth-ranked UCLA in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Playoffs on Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.
It was the Bruins' (21-7) first win over the Cardinal (14-9) in three tries this season.
Stanford concludes its season with a 14-9 record, which is its best since a 15-8 campaign in 1998. The Cardinal was ranked as high as #1 in the nation during the regular season, and posted 10 of its 14 wins over ranked opposition. The Cardinal's 10-7 record and third place finish in the MPSF's Pacific Division were also its best performances since a 13-6 conference mark and second place showing in 1998.
The Cardinal had two match points in the fifth game, but UCLA responded on both occasions. The Bruins, who will face Long Beach State in the MPSF Semifinals on Thursday at BYU, hit .464 in the fifth and decisive game (15 k-2 e-28 ta), compared to .310 (14-5-29) for the visitors.
Youngberg was dominant for the Cardinal in the middle with the 21 kills and only one error in 27 attempts. Sophomore Curt Toppel (Pacific Palisades, CA/Loyola HS) added 19 kills, seven digs, four blocks and two service aces, while junior Marcus Skacel (Laguna Niguel, CA/Santa Margarita HS) added 15 kills and a match-high 12 digs. Senior setter Josh Lukens (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel HS) had 63 assists and nine digs in his final collegiate match, while sophomore Billy Strickland (Malibu, CA/Harvard-Westlake HS) chipped in 10 kills and five digs. The Cardinal hit .325 (79-26-160) as a team, with a high mark of .393 (15-4-28) in game three.
The Bruins were led by 26 kills apiece from Cameron Mount and Mark Williams.