Today the UCLA men’s volleyball team will start its first
regular-season road trip of the year when it faces off against
Stanford. They will then meet University of the Pacific on
Sunday.
At 4-0, however, the Bruins say it doesn’t matter who they
play.
“We’re playing so well as a team right now that the
opposition is not of much importance,” junior quick hitter
Paul Johnson said.
Despite all the talk, it is the Bruins’ first conference
match, and they should take notice of the Cardinal (2-2), which
features a strong middle attack and a strong setter in junior Kevin
Hansen.
“Even though Stanford lost three players from last year,
it is to our benefit to play them early,” UCLA assistant
coach Brian Rofer said. “As long as we serve the way we have
been serving, that will help us exploit this team.”
The Bruins consider Stanford a good measuring stick for their
progress thus far. And for players like freshman opposite Steve
Klosterman, it will be the first trip to a conference
opponent’s court.
“Having not seen Stanford play in the past, I can only
expect the unexpected,” Klosterman said. “The play in
conference will be at a different level, so I am definitely looking
forward to the new level of competition. It will be a good
measuring point for us.”
After Stanford, the Bruins will face Pacific (2-3) and its
powerful opposite, 6-foot-6-inch junior Nils Dauburs. The Bruins
have an advantage over the Tigers in that they beat them in the
pair’s first matchup this season: at the Elephant Bar
Invitational, which UCLA went on to win. However, UCLA did not face
Dauburs in that tournament, and he looks to be quite a test.
“Dauburs is one of the best in the league, and we have to
be ready for him,” Rofer said.
In order to be successful this weekend, Rofer said the Bruins
simply need to play their game. While these road matches will be
tougher than the past few matches, players and coaches alike cite
this UCLA team’s new attitude as a reason not to worry.
“There is lots of competition on this team,” Rofer
said. “We will just play our game on our side of the net
““ serving and blocking ““ that’s the key to
beating weaker teams.”