Beau Peters might be just the backup setter at UCLA, but
he’d rather be here than at Long Beach State.
The sophomore setter is looking forward to Wednesday’s
match against the CSU-LB 49ers, after asking for release from his
full scholarship there and walking on at UCLA in the fall.
Peters originally signed a national letter of intent early with
Long Beach, claiming that the coaching staff had promised that
another setter would not be recruited.
However, the 49ers then brought in Tyler Hildebrand, who won the
setting job when Peters went down with an ankle injury mid-season.
Hildebrand eventually won MPSF Player of the Year honors.
“I don’t want to say they lied, but they were
untruthful to me,” Peters said.
Peters, a Huntington Beach native, said that while he has hard
feelings toward Long Beach coaches, he left his teammates on good
terms.
That said, he will be key to UCLA’s scouting efforts in
the film room, after practicing with the 49ers all last year.
“I know their hitting tendencies,” Peters said.
Peters lost his job this year to sophomore Dennis Gonzalez after
starting in UCLA’s 3-1 loss in the Bruins’ conference
opener against Stanford.
ACOSTA BACK: Junior outside hitter Jonathan
Acosta suited up Friday and is expected to be in uniform against
Long Beach State.
However, it is unknown when he will see his first action.
Acosta practiced for the first time on the first court on
Monday, and he will continue to serve as a backup until he can beat
out a current starter, coach Al Scates said.
Johnson honored: Middle blocker Paul Johnson
was named the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week on
Monday. Johnson, a junior, had nine kills and six blocks against UC
Santa Cruz, and 15 kills and six blocks against Cal State
Northridge.