[Men's Volleyball] WU Sweeps NorCal Trip

Westcliff swept its three Northern California matches last week, lifting the Warriors into second place in the California Pacific Conference standings, just two games behind undefeated No. 3 Benedictine Mesa.  With two weeks remaining in the regular season, WU is 6-2 in conference and 7-10 overall, and the Warriors travel to Hope International for a non-conference match on Tuesday and then close out the 2023 season with five home matches.  WU's first match was a 3-2 thriller at UC Merced with Mohamed Ilias Lazaar debuting with 24 kills and nine digs, Gabriel Pizza adding 23 kills and six digs under the direction of Pawel Tuz, who handed out 57 assists.  Leonardo Garcia had a match-high 20 digs.  The Warriors then traveled to Simpson and posted a four-set victory behind another big outing from Lazaar, who finished with 17 kills and 11 digs, and Pizza's 18 kills.  Tuz had 42 assists in the win.  WU closed out the trip with another five-set battle at Pacific Union.  Pizza powered the offense with 20 kills—hitting at a .366 clip—with Thomas Taufetee adding 16 and Lazaar contributing 11.  Tuz distributed 54 assists in the win, and Garcia led all players with 16 digs.