What better way to break the streak than against the team that
started it all?
The UCLA men’s volleyball team beat UC Santa Barbara 3-0
Friday night, ending a three-match skid against the team that
knocked the Bruins out of the first round of last season’s
MPSF playoffs.
The Bruins (5-6, 2-5 MPSF) picked up a sorely needed league
victory in the 30-26, 31-29, 30-22 win, and played with a level of
integration that has not been seen this season.
Freshman opposite Matt McKinney had a strong showing in his
third match of the year, recording 10 kills, four digs and an
ace.
“After tonight I feel in rhythm with the team,”
McKinney said. “The team was struggling a bit, but now we
have everything clicking.”
The freshman is currently redshirting the season on the
men’s basketball team, and will join the volleyball team for
home matches until basketball season is over.
“McKinney is getting integrated into part of the
team,” UCLA head coach Al Scates said. “He’s just
going to get better.”
The Bruins put on a blocking clinic in what Scates called the
team’s best performance of the season.
“This was the best we’ve blocked all season,”
he said. “This is how we’ve won all those national
championships ““ by controlling the net. Our blocking is going
to be good the rest of the season.”
Chalk up Scates’ confidence to the return of senior quick
hitter Scott Morrow who, in his second match since returning from
knee surgery, also seemed to find his rhythm, notching four kills
and five block assists.
“Scott is great,” junior libero Adam Shrader said.
“He gives us good senior leadership, and it’s great to
have a top blocker back.”
UCLA came out flat in game two, and quickly fell behind 4-8.
Scates took a time-out, and it seemed to be effective as the Bruins
scored the next five points and never looked back.
Sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Acosta led the Bruins with 11
kills and four block assists, while junior quick hitter Chris
Peña added eight kills and four block assists.
After winning the decisive second game, UCLA blew past the
Gauchos (3-9, 1-6) in game three, racing out to a 13-4 lead.
“This win was really important,” McKinney said.
“We were 1-5 and you can’t dig a deeper ditch than
that.”
At 2-5 in league play with the playoffs looming, the Bruins are
still in the hole they dug for themselves, but now at least they
can see daylight.