7 Warriors in the mix with MPSF honors

Setter Beckwith and opposite Hakala make the first team

After being upset by UCLA on Saturday, Hawaii's hopes for an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament now rest on top-ranked UC Irvine winning this week's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament title.

All-MPSF Teams Player of the Year Jayson Jablonsky, Jr., OH, UC Irvine Newcomer of the Year Brent Asuka, Fr., L, UC Irvine Coach of the Year John Speraw, UC Irvine First team Brent Asuka, Fr., L, UC Irvine; Brian Beckwith, Jr., S, Hawaii; Lauri Hakala, Jr., Opp., Hawaii; Andy Hein, Sr., MB, Pepperdine; Tyler Hildebrand, Sr., S, Long Beach State; Jayson Jablonsky, Jr., OH, UC Irvine; Robert Tarr, Sr., OH, Long Beach State. Second team Duncan Budinger, Sr., Opp., Long Beach State; Matt Carere, Sr., OH, Hawaii; Russell Holmes, So., MB, BYU; Alfred Reft, Sr., L, Hawaii; Brian Thornton, Jr., S, UC Irvine; Brian Waite, Jr., MB, Cal State Northridge; Matt Webber, Jr., Opp., UC Irvine. Third team Yosleyder Cala, Fr., OH, BYU; Dio Dante, Sr., MB, Hawaii; Jose Delgado, Sr., OH, Hawaii; Aaron Harrell, So., MB, UC Irvine; Tony Ker, So., L, UCLA; Dan Rhodes, Jr., Opp., Cal State Northridge; Jonathan Winder, So., S, Pepperdine. Honorable mention Brian Adamson, Sr., Opp., Pacific; Victor Batista, Sr., MB, BYU; Bryan Berman, Jr., OH, UC Santa Barbara; Theo Brunner, So., MB, UC Santa Barbara; Paul Carroll, Fr., Opp., Pepperdine; Joao Grangeiro, Sr., OH, USC; Steve Klosterman, Jr., Opp., UCLA; Mauli'a La Barre, Sr., MB, Hawaii; Teddy Liles, Jr., MB, Long Beach State; Rob Nielson, Sr., S, BYU; John Parfitt, Jr., OH, Pepperdine; Ivan Perez, So., OH, BYU; David Smith, Jr., MB, UC Irvine.

The Anteaters yesterday received plenty of support heading into the week when the All-MPSF teams were announced. So did the Warriors.

UCI (27-3) swept the top three awards, including Iolani graduate Brent Asuka being named as Newcomer of the Year as the first-team libero. No. 2 Hawaii (23-5) had all seven of its starters honored.

Warriors junior setter Brian Beckwith and junior opposite Lauri Hakala were named to the first team. Seniors Alfred Reft, a libero, and Matt Carere, an outside hitter, made the second team.

Junior middle Dio Dante, who led the MPSF in blocks, and senior hitter Jose Delgado were third-team selections, and senior middle Mauli'a La Barre was honorable mention.

UCI's John Speraw, in his fourth year, was named Coach of the Year. Player of the Year went to Anteater junior hitter Jayson Jablonsky.

"I have no complaints about the selections, there's nothing surprising," UH associate coach Tino Reyes said last night.

The only thing that might have been a surprise was the selection of two setters to the first team. Joining Beckwith was Long Beach State senior Tyler Hildebrand.

The choice of Asuka over Reft, an All-American, did surprise Speraw a little.

"They're both great defensive players and I didn't know if Alfie being a senior would make a difference," Speraw said last night. "Every once in a while a walk-on turns out to be a great one and we expect Brent to have a long and illustrious career with us."

Asuka, a true freshman, led the MPSF with a 3.23-dig average and is currently ranked fourth in the nation (3.08). He has already set the school single-season record in digs, with a current total of 318.

Reyes said the Warriors would start preparing today as if they were already in next week's final four. The at-large bid will be announced Sunday.

If UCI loses this week, the Anteaters should get the at-large berth, with the MPSF's automatic berth going to the winner of Saturday's championship match.

"All I can say is, 'Go, Anteaters,' " Reyes said. "I hope we get the chance to showcase what our guys can really do. Our argument (for the at-large) is that nobody outside of Irvine had a better season and no one in the league took a series from us."

Hawaii's losses in league came when splitting the series at UC Santa Barbara and at Pepperdine, as well as dropping one to UC Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Warriors also lost to UCLA in the Outrigger Invitational and Saturday in the MPSF quarterfinal.

"I want to win the tournament," Speraw said. "And I'm sure that goes along with Hawaii's wishes. I don't know if we'll have a sellout now, with Hawaii out. They do have a great following when they come to the mainland."