May 4, 2008

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Penn State

Head Coach Mark Pavlik:
"I'd like to say congratulations to Coach Dunphy and his staff for the run that his team made, dealing with the injuries they had. This was a microcosm of our season, coming back from a disappointing game one to win three straight. Overall, I thought that they responded well from game one, coming back from the four-point run that we gave up."

"The biggest play in game two was tied 28-28, and Carroll served a laser that Dennis just nailed, Luke put up and Max just put it away. I thought that really made a difference, changed our momentum, and I don't want that play to get lost in all the other things we did well."

"This replaces the 1972 Dairy little league championship for me. I'm really just the caretaker of this program. To give this team the opportunity to play their best at the highest level, it's rewarding to me. These guys played better than I coached, that's for sure."

"The grassroots at scholastic and club level, the players are in it for the right reasons. You don't have to have a tan in February to be a good volleyball player. These guys played their butts off, and hopefully there's some 12-year-old in Iowa that decides if they work hard, they can be like Matty [Anderson]. It's certainly nice of Marv [Dunphy] to say that."

On putting a libero on all-tournament team.
"I have three words for you; Dennis Del Valle. That position has become so important for the men's game, and when you have somebody that does thing well, but when you have someone that's as good as Dennis, it gives you a setter that can guide you to a .400 hitting percentage on the year. He's phenomenal."

Matt Anderson:
"I'm kind of awe-struck right now with what happened. Coming back, like we did at the Outrigger [against Hawai'i], it's pretty cool to see."

"One of the things I'm proud of is our never-say-die attitude. I had all the confidence in the world in Jay, Max and myself to put balls away, and in Luke to always put things right where the need to be."

On consecutive blocks on Carroll at the end of game three.
"Anytime you can block a player takes them out of their offense, takes them out of their flow, especially a big hitter like Paul. He was really beating us early, so it was good to turn it around."

Luke Murray:
On attacking the middle
"That was our game plan from the beginning. They don't really set their middles much, so with their scout team, they don't really see an attack there like Max & Max can make."

On his play encouraging smaller setters
"I hope so. It just goes to show that you don't have to be huge, just be smart, and have a good libero."

Dennis Del Valle:
"We set a goal at the beginning of the season, and we just think of that goal and practice really hard in the gym. My teammates gave me the confidence I had to play hard."

Pepperdine

Head Coach Marv Dunphy:
"I give a lot of credit to Penn State. We had a lot of chances. We snuck back in the game and took game one. They (Penn State) made some great plays to take game two. Maybe if we got that game it might of been different but you can't play the shoulda, woulda, coulda game. I give them credit, they made plays when they needed to."

Regarding being tired from fours matches in past two weeks
"I don't think what we did a few nights ago or a few weeks ago mattered tonight."

"Their middles were more experienced and came in with more pedigree than us. They have good talent in there."

Regarding injuries during the season
"For awhile I would of figured going 12-9, but we had a good run at the end. To have a chance to compete for the national championship and then come up short is tough. We can say we got better as time went on, but it might take awhile for that to sink in."

Jonathan Winder:
"We wanted to set the middle. It just wasn't working to well. We didn't have success early and our middle just didn't work, in large part to theeir serve that was knocking us off the net. It was really their good serving, they served in a lot."

"It was a great decision to come here and it is hard to think that it is over. It will be tough to leave. The coaching staff we have had her has been tremendous. Pepperdine is one of the classiest schools in America. There is no place like it. I am truly blessed to have gone there. Winning the national championship my freshman year, I am glad to have done that."

Paul Carroll:
"I felt they made some good plays at the right time. They are a pretty good team."

Regarding block in game two to take 29-28 lead
"I felt that was a huge play in the match. There was a rally and we had some good touches. They (Penn State) ended up making some good plays to end the game."