Two Teams Pull Rank on Division

Top-ranked UCLA and No. 2 Pepperdine will meet tonight at 7 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s men’s volleyball title match at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA has won both of its matches against the Waves this season, but the stakes are higher this time around, with an NCAA tournament berth going to the winner.

The Bruins, who defeated Long Beach State in three games Thursday night, are looking to make their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. They have won 16 national championships but lost in last year’s final to Stanford.

Pepperdine has won four national titles but hasn’t been to the final four since 1992.

Still, this could be the season the Waves make it back.

With outside hitters George Roumain and Scott Wong leading the Waves, Pepperdine (21-4) has the best hitting percentage in the MPSF, .342. UCLA is tied for third at .340.

Roumain, elected the most valuable player in the MPSF last week, is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound killing machine.

He had 808 kills this season, averaging 7.4 a game. In the Waves’ four-game victory over Hawaii on Thursday, Roumain had 15 in the first game.

Wong, MPSF freshman of the year, is one of the best servers in the league, with a 2.31 ace average this season.

But as good on the attack as the Waves are, the Bruins won the first match between the two teams in five games and the second in four.