The men’s volleyball season seems to have taken off on the
wrong foot, thanks in large part to a staggering list of
injuries.
Starting outside hitter Brennan Prahler has been rendered unable
to play due to a strained stomach muscle. Quick hitter Scott
Morrow is still recovering from knee surgery, and quick hitter Matt
Shubin has sat out of practice for the past two days due to severe
swelling in the shins.
Nonetheless, the Bruins (3-2, 0-1 MPSF) will have to make do
with what they have when they face off against No. 9 Long Beach
State tonight at Pauley Pavilion.
“We have a lot of things going on, but on the other hand,
the guys that are available are practicing well,” UCLA head
coach Al Scates said.
Last week, UCLA matched up twice against No. 2 UC Irvine and
left with a pair of five-game losses.
While the setbacks were unexpected, tonight’s game against
Long Beach State (5-1, 1-0 MPSF) is an opportunity to turn things
around.
The 49ers feature a dangerous pair of outside hitters in Scott
Touzinsky and Jeff Wootton; each averages at least four kills a
game.
“We don’t have anyone like that on our team right
now, so we’ll have to definitely slow (Touzinsky and Wootton)
down,” Scates said.
Tonight’s match is UCLA’s third on a four-game
homestand, and the team is anxious to start winning.
“We are fired up and ready to rebound, especially after a
disappointing loss,” Morrow said.