UCLA has been selected as host of the 2005 NCAA men’s
volleyball national championship tournament. The Bruins will get
home-court advantage should they make it to the Final Four three
seasons from now.
“It’s tremendous to have the advantage,” head
coach Al Scates said. “When we host it, we’re going to
be very strong.”
UCLA has won eight of its 18 national championships in Pauley
Pavilion, last winning it there in 1996. The Bruins failed to
advance to the national tournament when they last hosted in 1999,
after losing in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports
Federation tournament.
Last month, UCLA lost out to Long Beach State in its bid to host
the 2003 tournament. Hawai’i has been approved as the 2004
host.
Rich get richer
UCLA incoming freshmen Matt McKinney and Patrick Nihipali have
been named the top two recruits in the nation by Volleyball
Magazine in its Boys Fab 50.
McKinney, a 6-foot-8 outside hitter from Santa Ynez High, is
considered to be one of the best recruits in years, but he is on a
basketball scholarship and will join the volleyball team after the
hoops season.
“I expect him to come in after basketball and be an
accomplished blocker and hitter,” Scates said. “If he
were with the team all year, he would be our primary passer,
too.”
McKinney was named to the Junior National Team, but did not play
in last month’s NORCECA (Volleyball Confederation for North
America, Central America and the Caribbean Conference) Junior
Continental Championship in British Columbia. According to Scates,
McKinney was busy training for basketball.
Nihipali, a 6-9 middle blocker from Manhattan Beach Mira Costa,
did play in British Columbia, helping the team to a bronze-medal
finish. Sophomore outside hitter David Russell was also on the
team.
Paul George, a 6-5 outside hitter from Chatsworth, and Matthew
Acosta, a 6-1 outside hitter from Puerto Rico, were also named to
the Fab 50 in the September issue. Acosta is the brother of
sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Acosta.
Four-warned
The UCLA women’s team was picked by the Pac-10 coaches on
Tuesday to finish fourth in the high-powered conference. Defending
national champion Stanford was ranked first in the preseason
poll.
Volleyball Magazine, meanwhile, ranked the Bruins No. 13 in the
nation in its preseason poll.
UCLA plays Colorado in its season opener in Honolulu Aug.
30.
Compiled by Diamond Leung, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.