Soccer has its Premier League. Volleyball has the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
It’s considered by many as the toughest conference in all of college sports.
Ten of the 12 teams are in the AVCA Top 15, led by a loaded, veteran Pepperdine squad. However, if Cal Baptist and UC San Diego aren’t ranked, no opponent worth its 3-meter attack would treat a match with either the Lancers or the Tritons as a night off.
If one does, one will lose. Guaranteed.
"No one will be undefeated in this league," Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. "Pepperdine has largely been intact for four years and, in this league, experience helps. And (UC) Santa Barbara is another favorite with a lot of guys who have been through the league.
"We return a nice group. We’re a little different than we’ve been in the past with more depth. There’s guys who haven’t seen a lot of court time so far who could help us as the season unfolds. We’re still searching for what the best lineup is."
The same could be said for Wade’s staff, which lost associate coach Jeff Hall to the Rainbow Wahine program Monday. Hall replaces Scott Wong — the new Pepperdine head women’s indoor coach — as Dave Shoji’s associate coach and head sand coach.
Assistant coach Milan Zarkovic likely will be promoted from within. Former Rainbow Warrior setter Brian Beckwith was in the practice gym Wednesday, joining Spencer McLachlin as a volunteer coach.
Ready or not, Hawaii will host the No. 2 Gauchos Friday and Sunday. The Warriors are seeking a top-eight MPSF finish and a return to the conference tournament after missing out last season.
"Here we go," Wade said.
MPSF MEN’S VOLLEYBALL CAPSULES
A look at the teams in order of the MPSF preseason poll:
1. Pepperdine (5-0, 1-0 MPSF)
The second-ranked Waves were the prohibitive favorites to win the league title with 11 first-place votes and 121 points. The 25-point margin over No. 2 UC Santa Barbara was the largest in MPSF history, surpassing UC Irvine’s 12-point differential in the 2007 poll.
Marv Dunphy, in his 32nd year, returns six senior starters, including All-Americans Matt West at setter and Punahou graduate Josh Taylor on the outside. Taylor is the older brother of Rainbow Wahine hitter Nikki Taylor.
Pepperdine, which was upset by Stanford in the 2014 MPSF tournament semifinals, opened play Wednesday with a 3-0 win at Cal Baptist.
2. UC Santa Barbara (4-0, 0-0)
The third-ranked Gauchos opened with four straight wins, the first time that has happened since 2001. UCSB swept St. Francis (Pa.) before going 3-0 in its 51st Asics Invitational (formerly the Elephant Bar) with sweeps of Limestone and Princeton and a 3-1 win over IPFW.
Back from the squad that lost at BYU in the MPSF semifinals are junior All-American setter Jonah Self, along with with MPSF honorable mention Jake Staahl, a junior middle.
Seventh-year head coach Rick McLaughlin needs 17 wins to reach 100.
3. USC (1-0, 0-0)
The eighth-ranked Trojans return All-American senior setter Micah Christianson (Kamehameha), who won the Lloy Ball Award last season as the nation’s top setter and helped the U.S. national team win the FIVB World League gold medal. Also back are All-American sophomore middle Andy Benesh and national freshman of the year Lucas Yoder on the outside. Yoder is the sixth from his family to play for USC, a line that includes dad Bob, who won an NCAA title as a player (1977) and a coach (1980).
Bill Ferguson is in his ninth year at USC.
4. UCLA (3-0, 0-0)
The fourth-ranked Bruins opened with three wins at the UCSB tournament, defeating St. Francis and IPFW in four sets and sweeping Limestone.
Back for third-year coach John Speraw are starters Steve O’Dell, a junior setter, sophomore libero Jackson Bantle, and middles Trent Kersten and Mitch Stahl. The Bruins are young with 13 of 16 players either freshmen or sophomores.
5. UC Irvine (4-1, 0-0)
The Anteaters rebounded from a season-opening loss to Lewis by winning the 21st Outrigger Resorts Invitational with a 3-2 win over Penn State and sweeps of Ohio State and Hawaii. Sophomore hitter Tamir Hershko earned Most Outstanding Player honors and was named the MPSF Player of the Week on Monday. Joining him on the all-tournament team were sophomore setter Michael Saeta and senior opposite Zack La Cavera, the latter who sat out the loss to the Flyers with an ankle injury.
Former Anteater setter David Kniffin is in his third year at his alma mater.
UCI defeated George Mason 3-0 Wednesday.
6. BYU (1-1, 0-0)
The seventh-ranked Cougars split a pair of matches at the Stanford tournament, falling to defending national champion Loyola-Chicago in four and outlasting Lewis in five.
Fifth-year coach Chris McGown lost four-time All-American and 2014 national player of the year Taylor Sander to graduation but picks up younger brother Brenden, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter. Back for BYU are five starters, including all-MPSF hitter Josue Rivera, a senior, and junior middle Michael Hatch, who was third nationally in blocks. Also returning is senior libero Jaylen Reyes (Kamehameha), son of former Hawaii associate coach Tino Reyes.
7. Hawaii (3-1, 0-0)
The ninth-ranked Rainbow Warriors finished second at their 21st Outrigger Resorts Invitational, swept by UC Irvine in Sunday’s championship match.
Leading the Warriors are senior All-American middle Taylor Averill, junior hitter Siki Zarkovic and senior opposite Brooke Sedore, the latter two who were named to the Outrigger all-tournament team.
Sophomore Jennings Franciskovic has made an immediate impact, moving into the starting setter’s role. Junior libero Kolby Kanetake led last week’s tournament in digs. Sophomore hitter Kupono Fey gained confidence and experience with the U.S. junior national team during the summer.
Charlie Wade is in his sixth season as coach.
8. CSUN (2-2, 0-0)
The 15th-ranked Matadors swept George Mason Tuesday in 82 minutes, getting 14 kills from junior hitter Sam Holt to even their record. CSUN — rebranding itself from Cal State Northridge — went 1-2 at the UCSB tournament, sandwiching a sweep of St. Francis between five-set losses to IPFW and Princeton.
Jeff Campbell, in his 18th season, returns five starters from the team that finished 10th in the MPF. Besides Holt, back for the Matadors are senior middle Greg Faulkner and senior setter Travis Magorien. Sophomore libero Michael Horita (Kamehameha) is redshirting this season.
9. Stanford (1-2, 0-0)
The 12th-ranked Cardinal will host the NCAA final four in May but may be on the sidelines watching. Stanford was swept in both matches of the AVCA Showcase at Maples Pavilion, to Lewis and to Loyola-Chicago in a rematch of the 2014 national championship.
The leading returnees are All-American juniors James Shaw, a setter, and middle Conrad Kaminski. Both sophomore hitter Gabriel Vega (‘Iolani) and freshman libero Evan Enriques (Kamehameha-Hawaii) have played in all three matches with Enriques making the transition from all-state hitter to backing up senior Grant Delgado.
MPSF Coach of the Year John Kosty is in his ninth season.
10. Long Beach State (4-0, 1-0)
The 11th-ranked 49ers are looking to surprise the pollsters, remaining unbeaten with a sweep of UC San Diego on Wednesday.
The Beach matched host UCSB with a 3-0 record in last week’s Asics Invitational with sweeps of Princeton, Limestone and St. Francis.
Junior hitter Cody Martin has seven straight double-doubles dating back to the final four matches of 2014 and is averaging 4.00 kps. After sitting out last year with an injury, junior opposite John La Rusch is back and averaging 3.17 kps. Sophomore Matt Butler appears to be making a successful move from defensive specialist to setter.
Alan Knipe returns for his 12th season.
11. Cal Baptist (2-2, 0-1)
The unranked Lancers saw their two-match win streak ended Wednesday at home by Pepperdine. Division II CBU opened with a four-set loss to Ohio State then road sweeps at Holy Names and UC Merced, the latter where the Lancers had a program-record 16 aces against the Bobcats.
CBU is as young as UCLA with 12 newcomers, including nine freshmen, on its 19-man roster. Third-year coach Wes Schneider does have depth and some experience, led by outside hitters Jonathan Tuttle, a senior, and junior Rocky DeLyon. Freshman Zachary Melcher has made an immediate impact at setter.
12. UC San Diego (1-2, 0-1)
The unranked Tritons dropped their MPSF opener at Long Beach State Wednesday. The Tritons opened the season with a 3-1 loss at Concordia before pulling out a five-setter at Grand Canyon, a team that also lost to USC in five. The Tritons have no seniors and just three juniors. Freshman opposite Tanner Syftestad leads the team at 2.89 kps and sophomore Shayne Beamer, settling in at middle blocker after spot-duty on the outside last season, is second at 2.38.
Kevin Ring is in his 10th season.
