To say the least, Bruin middle blocker Chris Peña was not
feeling warm and fuzzy after UCLA’s latest loss.
“I’m tired of losing. That’s all I got,”
the junior said before walking off shirtless out the Pauley
Pavilion exits.
As chilly as Peña and the Thursday-night weather were,
nothing compares right now to the ice-cold UCLA men’s
volleyball team. No. 9 Long Beach State dealt the No. 3 Bruins a
22-30, 31-29, 26-30, 30-17, 15-13 defeat ““ their third loss
in four matches, and all three have been five-game
heartbreakers.
Sophomore Jonathan Acosta committed a hitting error on match
point to cap a frustrating Game 5. After Long Beach State (6-1, 2-0
MPSF) took a 10-8 lead, UCLA (3-3, 0-2) squandered numerous chances
to score on its serve.
Of course, a fifth game would not have been necessary had the
Bruins taken advantage of their opportunities to close out the
match early on. They spoiled a game point in Game 2 while the 49ers
capitalized on theirs.
After UCLA won Game 3, it inexplicably lost its intensity and
offense, hitting .094.
“We were flat in Game 4,” UCLA head coach Al Scates
said. “I don’t know if we’re relieved (in the
lead) or what.”
The game got so out of hand that Scates got the chance to play
freshman opposite hitter Matt McKinney, who for the first time
suited up ““ with one day’s practice ““ to
unexpectedly make his UCLA debut.
McKinney, the top volleyball recruit in the nation and a
scholarship basketball player, was not expected to join the team
until basketball season was over. But since he is redshirting in
basketball, head coach Steve Lavin allowed him to play volleyball
when UCLA hoops it up on the road.
Scates said McKinney, who finished with a kill, two hitting
errors and two digs, will play in similar circumstances for the
remainder the basketball season. His presence is needed because
three opposites are currently sidelined with injuries.
Junior J.T. Wenger, who McKinney temporarily replaced, led UCLA
with a career-high 18 kills. Acosta posted 17 kills, and Peña
added 12.
However, the Bruins were out-hit .381-.307. Long Beach
State’s Jeff Wootten slammed a match-high 25 kills.
UCLA out-blocked Long Beach State 14.5-4, but that didn’t
impress Scates.
“We should have blocked them a lot more,” he said.
“They were so predictable.”
When the match ended, a Long Beach State player grabbed his
testicles and gestured toward the UCLA faithful. The Bruins’
play has yet to become that obscene, but it is still frustrating
for Scates to watch.
“I’m aggravated that we can’t get over this
hump,” he said.