Men's Volleyball Weekly Release No. 17 - Finals
FIRST SERVE
It’s An All Big West National Final
The NCAA men’s volleyball national championship match between Long Beach State and Hawai‘i on Saturday marks the first time in the Big West Conference’s 50-year history that two members – in any sport – will play each other for the title.
It is round four between the two volleyball powers. The two squads will meet for the fourth time in a 23-day period when first serve takes place at 5 pm (ESPN2). LBSU won the first two meetings in the Walter Pyramid (April 12-13) and UH took the third matchup in the Stan Sheriff Center (April 20). The site shifts back to the ‘Mid for the final, where the Beach seek their second straight national championship after winning last year’s in five sets at UCLA.
UH – the tourney’s top seed and No. 1 team in the country – has gone toe-to-toe with LBSU, seeded No. 2 and ranked No. 2 nationally. In the previous three meetings, the Rainbow Warriors have the slightest edge in total points won through 15 sets played (308-297).
Repeat Feat?
The Big West has had only one program in any sport repeat as national champion. Former member Pacific achieved the feat in women’s volleyball during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Perfect Prognosticators
The final 2019 regular season standings mirrored the preseason predictions of the six head coaches in their poll released on Dec. 28.
All six coaches correctly picked Long Beach State to win the title – with Hawai‘i, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, CSUN and UC San Diego following in succession.
A Season Of Streaks
LBSU and UH harbor a couple of impressive streaks entering the NCAA Tournament, with the Beach having the opportunity to extend theirs.
• Long Beach State has won a school record 42 straight home matches dating back to March 26, 2016 – the second-longest in NCAA history – and behind only the 83 UCLA won consecutively from 1975-82. LBSU extended its streak to 42 with Thursday’s NCAA semifinal win against No. 3 Pepperdine.
• Hawai‘i is 16-0 inside the Stan Sheriff Center this season and has won 17 straight overall going into their 2020 home opener.
• UH owned two outstanding streaks before they were halted toward the end of the regular season. The ‘Bows started the season 25-0 – the 25-match win streak ranked sixth-longest in NCAA history – before losing to Long Beach State on April 12. UH won an NCAA record 74 straight sets before that gigantic run was snapped on April 6 at home against UC Santa Barbara.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
On Serve: Big West’s 19th National Championship
The winner of Saturday’s match between Long Beach State and Hawai‘i will become the Big West’s 19th national championship team. The Big West has won national titles in men’s basketball (1), baseball (2), softball (1), men’s soccer (1), men’s water polo (3), women’s volleyball (6), women’s golf (3) and men’s volleyball (1).
Postseason History
Long Beach State is making its eighth appearance in the national championship match and first back-to-back showing since 1990-91. The Beach are 11-8 all-time in the NCAA’s and have won two national championships (1991, 2018). Hawai‘i is appearing in the NCAA Tournament championship match for the third time – and first since 2002. The Rainbow Warriors are 1-1 in title matches, vacating the 2002 title.
‘Bows Break Record For Wins
UH established a single-season school record with its 28th win in Thursday’s semifinal triumph over Lewis.
Big West Dominates AVCA All-American Awards
The Big West placed 15 players on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America teams, including seven (out of 10) on the First Team. Hawai‘i led with four selections including Joe Worsley, Stijn van Tilburg, Rado Parapunov and Gage Worsley. Long Beach State added three more with the senior trio of TJ DeFalco, Kyle Ensing and Josh Tuaniga.
National Rankings
UH is the NCAA leader in four team statistical categories – hitting percentage (.439), kills per set (14.16), assists per set (13.24) and blocks per set (2.69). LBSU leads the nation in service aces per set (1.96). Individually, UH senior setter Joe Worsley is No. 1 nationally in assists per set (11.25) while LBSU counterpart Josh Tuaniga ranks No. 3 (10.71).
NOTEABLES
Big West Cleans Up On Off The Block Awards
Off the Block announced the winners for 10 of the NCAA Division I-II annual awards that it presents, and the Big West cleaned up, having a representative for six of them.
Here are the Big West players honored by the online men’s volleyball blog.
LLOY BALL AWARD – BEST SETTER
JOE WORSLEY, HAWAI‘I
The NCAA leader in assists per set (11.25), Worsley has directed the nation’s top offense as Hawai‘i is No. 1 in the country with a .439 team hitting percentage. He matched his career high with 59 assists against Long Beach State in the Big West Tournament championship match on Apr. 20.
BRYAN IVIE AWARD – BEST OPPOSITE
INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RADO PARAPUNOV, HAWAI‘I
Ranked No. 7 in the NCAA in kills per set (4.08) and tops in the Big West, Parapunov is also fifth nationally with a .426 attack percentage. The Bulgaria native is also one of the best in the nation behind the service line, ranking No. 8 in aces per set (0.48). He beat out teammate Stijn van Tilburg (Netherlands) for the International Player of the Year award.
KARCH KIRALY AWARD – BEST OUTSIDE
TJ DeFALCO, LONG BEACH STATE
The two-time AVCA Division I-II National Player of the Year earned the Karch Kiraly Award for the third time in his career. DeFalco is ranked in the NCAA top 25 in three categories – No. 11 in hitting percentage (.391), No. 23 in kills per set (3.46) and No. 5 in aces per set (0.54).
ERIK SHOJI AWARD – BEST LIBERO
GAGE WORSLEY, HAWAI‘I
Joined his brother Joe among the marquee Off The Block award recipients. Gage is No. 5 nationally in digs per set (2.47), with 12 matches of 10 or more digs. Tied his career-high twice against two of the teams in the NCAA Final Four, with 15 against Pepperdine (Mar. 9) and again versus Long Beach State (Apr. 12).
NATIONAL BLOCKER OF THE YEAR
PATRICK GASMAN, HAWAI‘I
Gasman sits at No. 2 in the nation with 1.44 blocks per set. Tied his career best with eight blocks against Lewis in the NCAA Tournament semifinal. Needs two more blocks to move into program’s career top 10.