The Rolling Stones had it right. You can’t always get what
you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what
you need.
Opening up Pac-10 play against the defending national champion
and arch-rival USC was certainly not what the UCLA women’s
volleyball team wanted to do. But playing two of the weaker teams
in the conference at home is exactly what the Bruins need to get
back on track.
Although UCLA lost the USC match 3-1, they did become the first
team to win a single game against the Trojans in nine matches.
“That was one thing we really set our sights on,”
head coach Andy Banachowski said. “Taking a game was a step
in the right direction.”
Now, the No. 9 Bruins (8-2, 0-1 Pac-10) are looking to take
another step by dominating Oregon (3-7, 0-2) and Oregon State (9-4,
0-2) in a weekend series that can put them near the top of the
Pac-10 standings.
“Our blocking was good for us (against USC),”
Banachowski said. “It’s something we’d like to
distinguish ourselves as and carry that over to this weekend. We
need to focus more on our passing, and we didn’t serve tough
enough.”
UCLA swept both matches against Oregon State and lost only one
game to Oregon last season. In fact, the Bruins are 37-1 all-time
against the Ducks. Still, the team is wary of underestimating any
opponent.
“We can’t take anyone lightly,” junior outside
hitter Heather Cullen said. “We need to defend our home
court.”
The first match of the weekend figures to be the most difficult
of the two. The Beavers recently took a game off of last
season’s runner-up Stanford.
“They’re a good attacking team, and they’re
playing with a lot of confidence,” Banachowski said.
Still, the Bruins are a superior team and should come away with
convincing victories as long as they play up to their
potential.
“It’s more about us playing our game than anything
else,” Cullen said.
These matches will be the first games UCLA plays in Pauley
Pavilion with school in session, and the team is looking forward to
strong home court support.
“It’d be great to get the students interested in
seeing us play,” Banachowski said. “This team is
enthusiastic, and it’s a lot of fun playing with that many
people in the stands.”
Unfortunately for the Bruins, they may have to play without one
of their leading attackers. Junior outside hitter Brittany Ringel
sprained her left ankle during practice on Wednesday and will not
play during the weekend. Her prognosis is good, however, and she
will likely be able to return to the lineup whenever the pain has
subsided.
“Basically, it’s on me,” Ringel said.
“Whenever I decide to come back, I will.”
Her coach, however, has a more strict attitude.
“She’ll be back however fast she heals fully.
We’re not sure how long that will take,” Banachowski
said. “It could be a week or ten days; it could be four
weeks.”
Freshman Becky Green likely will be tapped to replace Ringel
during the weekend matches. Thus far Green has played exceptionally
well, as she ranks fifth on the team in total kills (58), and has a
stellar .341 hitting percentage. She is also the team’s most
dangerous serving threat, leading the Bruins with 11 aces on the
year.
Both games will be played in Pauley Pavilion at 7 p.m.