Already without starting setter Krystal McFarland, the UCLA
women’s volleyball team was dealt another blow Monday.
Heather Cullen, a starting outside hitter and the Bruins’
senior leader, was suspended for tonight’s match against
Pepperdine for a violation of team rules.
Neither UCLA coach Andy Banachowski nor any of the Bruin players
would comment on the suspension.
“We have discussed it and have decided to keep this a team
issue,” Nana Meriwether said.
Cullen’s suspension is the second incident in the past
week where players were held out of games for violating team
rules.
Brittany Ringel, UCLA’s second-leading hitter, was
suspended for Thursday’s match against Oregon and did not
start Friday at Oregon State.
Banachowski also would not comment on whether both
player’s suspension was for the same violation.
All these distractions have come at a time when UCLA (13-5, 6-3
Pac-10) was supposed to go through the softer part of its schedule,
but the No. 12 Bruins have definitely not made it easy on
themselves.
“We’ve had to adjust with all the changes,”
Meriwether said. “But with our team chemistry, we’ll
definitely be able to play through it.”
Compounding the suspension will be the loss of McFarland, who
suffered an ankle sprain against Oregon and will miss
tonight’s match against Pepperdine.
She is questionable for this weekend’s matches against the
Arizona schools.
Replacing McFarland will be sophomore Tammy Jackson, who made
her first career start against Oregon State on Friday.
“It hasn’t been much of an adjustment because
I’ve done it in practice,” Jackson said. “But the
game under my belt will definitely help me.”
The experience will definitely aid Jackson against the Waves, a
perennial power in the past. But Pepperdine has struggled mightily
this year, getting off to a 5-11 start.
“They have always played us well,” Banachowski said.
“We’re going to need a real team effort from all our
hitters.”
The Waves defeated the Bruins in five games last year and
finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the country.
But Katie Wilkins, their top hitter and a three-time
All-American, graduated last year, leaving this year’s team
without a middle presence.
Meanwhile, the Bruins have had a steady presence patrolling the
middle in Meriwether.
Besides Meriwether, UCLA will rely on a new cast of players
tonight, including sophomores Katie Carter and Becky Green and
junior Nancy Barba. Each will have to take a larger role due to the
injuries at the outside hitter position.
Green, in particular, stood out during the match against the
Beavers, recording two streaks of seven straight serves during the
final two games that enabled the Bruins to capture the match.
“Having everyone step up and play their roles has really
helped us,” Jackson said. “It has shown us how deep of
a team we really have.”