RAINBOW WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL
Warriors focusing on rival Cougars
Hawaii doesn't want to think about the MPSF title
Worry about what you can control.
Don't worry about what you can't.
Their variation of the "Serenity Prayer" has the Hawaii volleyball players focused on one thing. And it's not the possibility of winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title.
For that to happen, the No. 2 Warriors (21-4, 17-3) would have to win both matches this week against No. 4 Brigham Young (18-6, 14-6) AND top-ranked UC Irvine would have to lose at least once. Or Hawaii could split and UCI lose both. Or ...
"There are so many different scenarios that could play out that we can't be thinking about that," junior setter Brian Beckwith said. "We have to focus on Friday and then on Saturday."
The Cougars have proven to be more than the Warriors could handle the past three seasons. BYU has won the last six meetings between the two, including three times last year.
"BYU is a great team," said senior hitter Jose Delgado, personally 1-6 against the Cougars. "They have physical, athletic players. It's going to be a good show.
"It's hard not think about (the MPSF title) but we have to worry about our side of the court. What Irvine does is out of our control."
The Anteaters (25-3, 18-2) finish out the regular season at No. 3 Cal State Northridge tonight and then host No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Saturday. Most volleyball observers feel Northridge, riding a seven-match win streak, has the best shot at upsetting UCI. UCSB's chances have dimmed after losing All-American Evan Patak, the MPSF leader in kills and aces, to academic problems.
Hawaii has clinched at least the No. 2 seed for the MPSF playoffs and would host a quarterfinal April 22. Should the Warriors win the MPSF title, they would host April 27 and 29 with a bye into the semifinals.
BYU is also hoping to host a quarterfinal, but could finish anywhere from third to sixth, depending on what they, Pepperdine, Long Beach State and Northridge do. Seeds 2-4 host quarterfinals.
"We are fighting for the chance to host while they (the Warriors) are out to prove they are the best team in the league," BYU coach Tom Peterson said.
The Cougars lost both matches at Long Beach State last week and are 3-5 on the road this year.