M. volleyball expects to eat Irvine alive
Solid blocking team anticipates upholding winning streak on path
to Final Four
By Ruben Gutierrez
Daily Bruin Staff
If common opponents are any indication, the No. 3 UCLA men’s
volleyball team should have little trouble extending its six-match
winning streak in tonight’s matchup at No. 14 UC Irvine at 7.
The Anteaters were pummeled in three games by both Stanford and
Pacific earlier this season, while UCLA swept both teams this
weekend.
If Irvine (7-7 overall, 2-7 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation)
has a strength, it is at the net. Two Anteaters rank among the
national leaders in blocks. Chris Harger averages nearly two blocks
per game, while John Arata contributes 1.5 per game.
With a .338 team hitting percentage, it seems the Bruins will
have little to worry about. In addition, UCLA (10-2, 7-1) has two
marquee players, All-Americans Paul Nihipali at opposite and Stein
Metzger at setter, in a groove. Nihipali led the squad in kills in
both matches last weekend and hit an astounding .625 against No. 5
Stanford on Friday.
"Nihipali is playing real well and Stein is setting great," UCLA
volleyball head coach Al Scates said. "Paul is getting stronger.
He’s hitting stronger, there’s no question. He had a slow start
this year with a shoulder injury. Now, he seems to be really in
synch."
As if the awesome UCLA attack won’t give the Anteaters enough
problems, the Bruins feature a blocking machine of their own.
Sophomore quick hitter Tom Stillwell ranks third in the nation in
blocks at nearly two per game and in MPSF matches, Stillwell is
tops in the conference at over two per game. Nihipali is also among
the conference blocking leaders.
Freshman quick hitter James Turner should be the next Bruin to
join his teammates among the blocking leaders. Turner, who was out
with an ankle injury, has not played the minimum number of matches
to qualify for ranking.
"(Turner’s block) is coming back, sure," Scates said. "I’m sure
he’ll be among the leaders, he just hasn’t played enough games to
show up in the rankings yet."
For Scates and the rest of the Bruins, the match should serve as
a tune-up for two matches at No.1 Hawaii this weekend. But a loss
to Irvine would change the complexion of this weekend’s
showdown.
"The match is important because we have two at Hawaii right
after them," Scates said. "If we can go to Hawaii and give them a
conference loss, then we force Hawaii to come to our place for the
playoff match.
"If we go there and have already lost to Irvine, though, then
we’ll almost certainly have to go to Hawaii and play them in a
single elimination tournament to get into the Final Four."
ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin
Matt Noonan split time with Paul Nihipali at the opposite
position.
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