The upset kids will meet each other for the chance to play of the MPSF Tournament championship.
Seventh-seeded UCSB plays No. 6 Long Beach in a semifinal match today at 5 p.m. at USC’s Galen Center.
No. 1 USC takes on fourth-seeded UC Irvine in the other semifinal.
UCSB (15-14) is coming off an upset of second-seeded BYU in Provo, Utah, while Long Beach State (15-13) knocked out third-seeded Stanford.
The Gauchos lost both regular-season meetings with the 49ers, who have one of the most impressive freshman hitters in the nation in Taylor Crabb. He was an All-MPSF honorable mention and a member of the All-Freshman team after recording five double-doubles this year. Junior Jim Baughman, a recent convert from outside hitter to opposite, leads the team with 305 kills (3.32 per game).
Jeff Menzel carries the Gaucho attack. The senior had a huge match at BYU, blasting 27 kills. He was named first team All-MPSF this week. Other Gauchos honored were Scott Slaughter (2nd team, leader in MPSF hitting percentage), Andy McGuire (2nd team, fourth in MPSF digs), and Vince Devany (honorable mention, second in MPSF assists).
