During the course of a regular season, almost every team goes
through a lapse or dry spell.
What separates the marquee teams from the rest, however, is
their ability to rebound from tough losses.
For the Bruins (18-10) to show that they belong in that upper
class, they’ll have to rebound from their season-ending loss
this Friday when they host Loyola Marymount (17-11) in the first
round of the NCAA Tournament.
Then again, they have no other choice but to rebound, or their
season will be over.
“We feel that we still have a lot to prove,” UCLA
coach Andy Banachowski said. “We haven’t had the most
consistent season, and we need to finally put it
together.”
Integral to UCLA’s chances of victory will be the health
of starter Heather Cullen.
A senior, Cullen has been recovering from a strain in her back
and sat out last Saturday’s match against Washington.
She returned to practice earlier this week, however, and is
expected to play today.
“She has practiced extremely well all week, and has earned
a spot in the lineup for this weekend,” said Banachowski.
Cullen is one of five seniors on the Bruin roster who are
playing their final set of home games this weekend, and
collectively, they will be expected to lead the team if UCLA is to
advance through the playoffs.
“I feel the seniors need to show they can carry our team
through the playoffs,” Banachowski said. “And starting
off at Pauley should will help them with that.”
But if the Bruins want to achieve their season-long goal, they
will first have to defeat Loyola Marymount and its senior middle
blocker Kelli Nerison.
Nerison, named first team All-West Coast Conference, is ranked
No. 6 in the nation in blocks with 1.72 per game and can
potentially throw off UCLA’s offensive attack.
“It will be a big opportunity for our hitters to show how
much they have improved,” Banachowski said.
“LMU’s middle blockers are very tough and will provide
a challenge for us.”
Essential to the Bruins’ ability to combat the
Lions’ prowess up the middle will be their ball control.
Bruin libero Chrissie Zartman is one of the best passers in the
nation and can often stifle the other team’s offense
herself.
“They have a very experienced team and it will be very
important for us to control the ball,” Banachowski said.
“Part of that will be a consistent serving and passing
effort.”
If the Bruins defeat the Lions on Friday, they will move on to
face the winner of the Utah-Long Beach St. game on Saturday.
The Bruins faced the Utes on the road earlier this season and
lost in a five-game match but did not have the services of leading
hitter Becky Green.
UCLA’s last match against Long Beach State, meanwhile, was
two years ago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and the
Bruins won that match 3-0.