February 20, 1996
M. volleyball barely escapes falling into Lions’ cage
By Ruben Gutierrez
Daily Bruin Staff
Just when the first game of Friday’s men’s volleyball match
against Loyola Marymount was beginning to look like a blowout, the
courageous Lions clawed their way back into contention, an omen of
things to come in UCLA’s 15-13, 15-4, 9-15, 15-6 victory at the
Wooden Center.
With UCLA holding a commanding 12-3 lead in game one, an ace
serve by LMU outside hitter Tim Farmer, brother of UCLA quick
hitter Dan Farmer, started a seven-point Lion rally which brought
the score to 12-10. Farmer would put away 19 kills on the evening
to pace Loyola. UCLA took the game 15-13 on an LMU hitting
error.
Despite losing the game, the Lions had shown the defending NCAA
champions that the rest of the match would not be a cakewalk.
"I think all of us kind of tensed up," UCLA swing hitter Brian
Wells said. "We’re used to coming out and spanking teams like
this."
UCLA brought the Lions back down to earth in game two, crushing
them 15-4, and scoring a pivotal five straight points on Wells’
service.
Facing a sweep, LMU turned the tables on the Bruins in the third
game. The Lions roared to an 8-2 lead on their way to a 15-9
victory.
"They got into to a groove where they were real hard to score
against," Scates said. "We sided out well, but we had trouble
scoring.
"Really, in my mind, I didn’t have any feeling of doubt about
the outcome. I thought we were in control. Even though we lost the
third game, I thought we’d come back and win."
During a five-point Loyola tear in the third game, Scates
benched All-American opposite Paul Nihipali, after already sitting
down freshman swing hitter Fred Robins in the previous game. For
Scates, whose policy it is to always go with a hot player, benching
a starter is no surprise.
Allowing them to return later in the match is, however. But with
Robins and Nihipali fresh, the Bruins cruised 15-6 in the fourth
game to take the match.
"It was interesting to see how Robins and Nihipali would come
back," Scates said. "You tend to cool off in this game, but they
came back pretty good."
Nihipali’s return from his brief respite on the pine was
welcomed by the Bruins, as he ended with a match-high 20 kills.
Quick hitters Tom Stillwell and James Turner dominated both sides
of the net, leading UCLA to a 20.5 to eight team-blocking
advantage. Turner, in only his second match back after being
sidelined with an ankle injury, put away 19 kills.
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© 1996 ASUCLA Communications Board
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