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BYU sophomore setter Yamil Perez has a motto: Have fun and enjoy the game.
That motto was put to the test earlier this season, when the 2007 AVCA Newcomer of the Year was injured, then struggled to get back to his freshman form. BYU still managed to play a high level of volleyball behind two other setters, senior Brian Congelliere and sophomore Reed Chilton. It wasn't until a trip to Hawaii at the beginning of April that Perez managed to work his way back into the lineup.
BYU head coach Shawn Patchell has said all season he would go with the hot setter from this unusually deep group, and the dynamic Perez is getting the call for the biggest match of the season: Tonight's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinal meeting with No. 4 Cal-Northridge.
"I'm a very happy person and I want to bring all that happiness to everyone on the court," Perez said. "It helps to relieve pressure and helps my teammates to relax. I want to spread my energy to make them better. It's a fun game."
Even when Perez rarely left the bench during the regular season, he always kept a smile on his face and a positive attitude.
"What's best for the team, I'm down with that," he said. "I don't like being on the bench, nobody does. But we have three setters to do the job and if that's what we need, I'm cool with that.
"I'm pretty happy to be the setter in the playoffs. I love the energy and the teamwork and I'm hoping our team does its best."
Perez didn't know much about BYU while growing up in Puerto Rico playing for the junior national team. After his senior season in high school, Perez received a letter from Patchell. Perez contacted BYU outside hitter and fellow Puerto Rican Ivan Perez (no relation) to ask him about the school.
"When I talked to Ivan, that's when everything started," Yamil said. "The first thing I asked was if BYU had an engineering program. He said yes and that he was studying engineering. Then I asked him about the program and he said they had great coaches and players."
In fact, Puerto Rico has been a fertile recruiting ground for BYU, producing All-Americans Ossie Antonetti, Joaquin Acosta and Hector Lebron.
"I thought if those guys all went to BYU, it must be a great school," Perez said. "It's been awesome. It's very social and they party a lot in Puerto Rico, but I can focus on volleyball and school here. At BYU we have a great balance with school, volleyball and daily life."
As a freshman, Perez grabbed the starting setter spot and earned the national award for newcomer of the year. Now with his injuries and frustrations behind him, Perez allows the Cougars to play a very fast offense that is difficult to defend.
"Yamil is a guy who brings a lot of fire to the court," BYU senior middle blocker Russell Holmes said. "He's a fun guy and super athletic. He has a lot of energy and gets guys fired up. He has a real competitiveness and he's playing well at this time."
Perez said the fast offense leaves the opposition guessing at his intended targets for sets.
"Their middles are going to be late and I can spread the ball around by starting with our middles," Perez said, "then going to the opposite and outside hitters. I love a fast offense and a fast game."
BYU beat Northridge twice in Provo back in February in four games and five games, respectively. The winner of tonight's match will seize the inside track for one of the precious Final Four spots at the NCAA tournament, which will be held at UC-Irvine May 1 and 3.
"It's a very important match," Perez said. "Probably the team that wins here gets to the Final Four. We're confident we can do our job and come out with a victory."
The winners of the MPSF, Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournaments earn automatic bids to the Final Four, with the fourth spot going to an at-large team. BYU, which has won three NCAA titles, hasn't been to the Final Four since winning it all in 2004.
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MPSF Semifinals
No. 3 BYU (24-4) vs. No. 4 Cal-Northridge (23-6)
When: Tonight, 9 p.m. MT
Where: The Pyramid at Long Beach, Calif. (5,000)
Radio/TV: None
Internet: http://mpsports.cstv.com/sports/m-volley/mpsf-m-volley-body.html
The Word: The Cougars beat Northridge twice in Provo in February. ... No. 2 Long Beach State plays No. 5 Pepperdine in the earlier semifinal match.
Men's College Volleyball Playoffs
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament
Today
Semifinals at Long Beach, Calif.
No. 1 Long Beach State (23-5) vs. No. 5 Pepperdine (14-10), 6:30 p.m. MT
No. 2 BYU (24-4) vs. No. 3 Northridge (23-6), 9 p.m. MT
Saturday
MPSF finals at Long Beach, Calif.
8 p.m. MT
Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament
Today
Semifinals at Columbus, Ohio
No. 10 Ball State (20-9) vs. No. 14 Lewis (21-9), 4 p.m. MT
Loyola (17-13) vs. No. 9 Ohio State (18-7), 6:30 p.m. MT
Saturday
Championship at Ohio State
6 p.m. MT
Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament
Today
Semifinals at University Park, Penn.
NJIT (13-13) vs. No. 11 George Mason (19-7), 2:30 p.m. MT
NYU (23-7) vs. No. 1 Penn State (25-1), 5:30 p.m. MT
Finals
April 26 at Penn State
5:30 p.m. MT |
