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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Stanford sweeps to MPSF title


Advertiser Staff and Stanford.com

Evan Romero had 19 kills and 'Iolani alum Brad Lawson added 15 as host and top-seeded Stanford swept third-seeded Cal State Northridge, 30-24, 30-28, 30-17, last night to capture the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament title and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cardinal (22-6) will join Ohio State and Penn State in this week's NCAA final four, which also will be played in Stanford, Calif. Northridge (23-9) is expected to receive the at-large berth.

"It's great to win the regular season and tournament championships," Stanford coach John Kosty said. "But we've had a season-long goal of winning the national championship."

The Cardinal seemed focused on achieving that goal by the way it dominated last night's final set.

"That third set was the closest we've come this year to playing to our potential," said All-America setter Kawika Shoji, a 2006 'Iolani graduate. "It was a great step in the right direction because we're peaking at the right time."

Shoji had 49 assists and two service aces. Punahou alums Spencer McLachlin (7 kills, 7 digs) and Erik Shoji (8 digs) also contributed to Stanford's first conference tournament title since its national championship season of 1997.