COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS : Waves Beat Stanford for Title

The defensive and passing ability of Stanford wasn’t enough to overcome the athleticism and cohesiveness of Pepperdine in the NCAA men’s volleyball championship match Saturday at Ball State.

The Waves (24-4) fought back from deficits in the last two games and won their fourth NCAA title when Tom Sorenson’s ace capped off a 15-7, 15-13, 16-14 victory before 7,391.

“It was a perfect way to end a great season,” said Sorenson, who recorded a team-high 33 kills. “We really played great as a team and helped each other out. We got some breaks and took advantage of them.”

The Cardinal (24-4) couldn’t help but feel it sealed its fate after committing 13 attack errors in the first game and 14 service errors in the second. Stanford had the lead and momentum during both the second and third games, with advantages of 13-9 and 12-9, respectively.

But Pepperdine’s Dain Blanton and Alon Grinberg came up with stuff blocks, digs and kills at opportune times. And freshman setter Chip McCaw had 77 assists.

“Our guys were all over the place,” Pepperdine Coach Marv Dunphy said. “We forced them into making some mistakes they don’t usually make, and we kept our poise down the stretch.”

After Stanford went ahead, 12-9, in the third game, Pepperdine scored three points in a row to tie it, 12-12.

The game was also tied at 13-13 and 14-14 before Pepperdine took a 15-14 lead on a resounding kill by Sorenson that capped a long volley.

With Pepperdine serving for the title, Stanford responded with a sideout. But Pepperdine regained the serve after another kill by Blanton.

Sorenson’s title-clinching ace sailed off a Cardinal player and into the stands.

Pepperdine also won NCAA titles in 1978, ’85 and ’86.

In the consolation match, Penn State defeated Indiana Purdue-Ft. Wayne, 15-4, 15-5, 15-6.

Grinberg, Sorenson and McCaw were named to the all-tournament team, along with Duncan Blackman and Dave Goss of Stanford and David Muir of Penn State.

Saturday’s crowd brought the two-day total to 13,102, setting a record. The previous high was 12,898, set at the 1984 finals at Pauley Pavilion.