PIVA

Spokane, WA – PIVA Championships lived up to the hype, as 25 teams met in a winner take all tournament at the Warehouse in Spokane, WA on 2.27.10 to see who would lift the trophy and get the free trip to nationals.  The women’s division offered surprise after surprise as often overlooked Seattle University Redhawks gave Gonzaga Blue its first loss of the season in dramatic fashion during the afternoon pools.  The final four boasted 4 of the regions’ 5 top teams.  Although the University of Washington 1 provided Gonzaga Blue with only its second loss of the season earlier in the day, Gonzaga Blue got the better of them in the semis in 3 tight games advancing through the losers bracket to play the loser of the Eastern Washington and Seattle U match.  Seattle U played hard but Eastern proved to be too much advancing to the finals of the tournament.  Seattle then faced Gonzaga Blue for the second time during the day for a spot in the finals, but this time Gonzaga Blue was too tough as they overwhelmed Seattle U setting up a finals match with the Eagles of Eastern Washington.  Due to the double elimination format, Gonzaga Blue would have to beat still undefeated for the day Eastern Washington in a best 2 of three sets and then beat them again in 1 game to 25 to take the crown and keep their hold on the top spot in the regional rankings.  The Zags took the Eagles in 2 in the first match setting up the 1AM final game.  The Zags dug deep but the aggressive swings of Eastern were too much as an upset of historical proportions unfolded.  The Eastern Washington University Eagles became the first ever PIVA Champs in the women’s division and the highly favored Zags were left to think about what might of been.  Aiko Nagabuchi (OH from Eastern Washington University) was named Conference Most Outstanding Player.

All Conference First Team

• OH – Gonzaga Blue – Liza Kuhn
• OH – Seattle U – N0. 6
• RS – Eastern Washington U – Syndey Austin
• MH – U of Washington – Deviny Mo
• MH – Gonzaga Blue – Nicole Raisch
• S – Gonzaga Blue – Alex Catabayan

All Conference Second Team

• OH – Gonzaga Blue – Gillian Hanzlik
• OH – Willamette U – Tori Tomlison
• OH – U of Idaho – Lisa Short
• OH – Seattle U – Lisa Cooke
• RS – U of Washington – Ari Playford
• S – Washington State U – Becky Rexford

The following are the full results based on order of finish:

1. Eastern Washington U
2. Gonzaga Blue
3. Seattle U
4. U of Washington 1
5. U of Idaho
6. Washington State U
7. Gonzaga Red
8. Boise State U
9. U of Washington 2
10. U of Idaho 2
11. Willamette U

The men’s division was also a wild time as Washington State surprised everyone and came out of pool play as the number 1 seed.  Surprise teams from Central Washington and Montana State also strengthened the field as the teams battled late into the night.  In the end the final four consisted of Boise State, Gonzaga University 1, Central Washington, and the number 1 ranked Oregon Ducks.  In the first semifinal Oregon dispatched of Central Washington in straight sets.  The same occurred in the semis of the winners bracket as  Gonzaga 1 took Boise State in two highly contested sets.   This forced Boise and Oregon to square off for a chance to face Gonzaga in the finals.  In a tough match, Oregon squeezed out a victory.  This created the the match up that most were hoping for, the number 1 and defending PIVA Champion Oregon Duck versus number 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs for the crown.  The Ducks took the first but the Zags stormed back taking game two.  The third game was back and forth until the Zags’ outside attack proved to be too much.  The Zags emerged victorious, were crowned champs, and awarded the free trip to nationals.  Dylan Kinnsella (OH from Gonzaga 1) was named Conference Most Outstanding Player.

All Conference First Team

• OH – Western Washington – Lukas Henke
• OH – Gonzaga U – Pat McDonnell
• OH – Boise State U – Brian Deibels
• MH – Washington State U – Cam Moody
• L – U of Oregon – No.3
• S – U of Oregon – Devin Curran

Al Conference Second Team

• OH – U of Oregon – No. 1
• OH – Gonzaga 2 – Wayne Hoskins
• OH – Jordan Bell – Montana State U
• RS – Gonzaga U – Scotty Alexander
• RS – Western Washington U – Keon Price
• S – Gonzaga U – Mitch Samson

The following are the full results based on order of finish:

1. Gonzaga U 1
2. U of Oregon
3. Boise State U
4. Central Washington U
5. U of Washington
6. Gonzaga U 2
7. Washington State U
8. Western Washington U
9. Montana State U
10. Whitman College 1
11. Whitworth U
12. Willamette U
13. Whitman College 2
14. U of Idaho

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