UCLA all-conference men’s volleyball player Cameron Mount
has unknowingly used up his four years of collegiate eligibility
and will not be able to play this season, as determined by head
coach Al Scates.
Mount, a 6-foot-8 opposite hitter, was expected to provide
firepower, leadership and experience as a senior for the
Bruins’ annual run at a national championship.
But Mount actually played as a senior last year.
Scates made the stunning discovery as he was going through some
old score sheets in preparation for UCLA’s preseason
tournament in Canada two weeks ago. The records showed that Mount
had played in one game of a preseason match in against York College
in 1996, using up his freshman year.
Because Mount went on a two-year Mormon mission after the
season, Scates forgot about the brief appearance and assumed Mount
had redshirted the year and had four years of eligibility
remaining.
“I really screwed up,” Scates said.
“It came out of nowhere,” senior setter and team
captain Rich Nelson said. “It’ll be a big loss for us
on the court.”
Mount could not be reached for comment. He got the bad news a
few days before the Bruins left for Canada.
“He took it hard,” Scates said.
Any UCLA wins with Mount on the court this season might have
resulted in forfeits.
Mount was second on the team in kills and aces last season. He
was a member of the 2000 national championship squad and finishes
eighth on the all-time ace list with 83.
Because Mount will remain a UCLA student, he can train with the
team in preparation for a career in the professional ranks.
Mount will play against his former teammates in Friday’s
alumni match, and UCLA will use the match to get a look at the
candidates to start at his spot. Sophomore J.T. Wenger, who was cut
from the team last season, has emerged as the favorite. Sophomore
Brennan Prahler and junior college transfer Allen Vince, a
converted middle blocker, are also in the mix.
“We’re going to fight through it,” Nelson
said. “We’re going out on top no matter what.
We’ll win it for Cameron.”
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Senior middle blocker Scott Morrow is still having pain in the
knee that he injured last season. He will have an MRI tonight and
miss Friday’s match.