In its annual quest for a national title, the UCLA men’s
volleyball team started off in the right direction by winning the
Elephant Bar Classic in Santa Barbara over the weekend. Despite
facing some of the toughest competition in the country, the Bruins
escaped unscathed to begin the regular season 3-0.
In Saturday’s final, top-seeded UCLA defeated No. 2 Cal
State Northridge in five games 35-37, 30-25, 30-23, 23-30, 17-15,
to clinch the tournament for the second straight year, defeating
the Matadors in the championship both times.
“It was important for us to get some momentum going into
league play,” UCLA coach Al Scates said. “But, frankly,
I just don’t like to lose.”
Performing well in their leadership roles, seniors Jonathan
Acosta, Kris Kraushaar and Paul Johnson guided the team to victory.
Acosta hit .324 and led all players with 20 kills while Kraushaar
(.300) added 13 kills and recorded three aces. Meanwhile, Johnson
was voted MVP of the tournament after recording 12 kills and eight
blocks.
“Paul has really expanded his all-around game,”
Scates said. “He blocked nearly everything and his floating
serve was a key factor.”
The Bruins’ two freshmen contributed as well with libero
Tony Ker making 37 digs and setter Gaby Acevedo being selected to
the All-Tournament team. UCLA had nine aces to the Matadors’
three, but still has room for improvement as it was out-blocked
14-12.
In the final game, UCLA fell behind 9-7, but was able to
overcome the deficit to win 17-15 with the contribution of redshirt
sophomore Paul George, who replaced starter Steve Klosterman in the
fourth game.
“I played Paul in the fifth game because I loved his
energy in the game earlier,” Scates said. “He was
really calling for the ball and I want that out of all my
players.”
After winning their previous six regular and preseason matches
in three games, the Bruins took some positives out of playing a
five-game match against Northridge.
“We had been blowing everyone out previously, and it was
great to finally win a five-game match,” Scates said.
“You must take advantage of the opportunity. It only happens
a few times a season.”
Though the season is still in its infantile stages, two of
UCLA’s freshmen seemed to have picked up midseason form.
Libero Eric Chaghouri, a redshirt freshman, recorded 34 digs in
Friday’s matches against UC Irvine and Long Beach State
without an error. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Gaby Acevedo recorded
a match-high 57 assists in Saturday’s championship match and
solidified his position as the Bruin starting setter.
“Everyone contributed in the match,” Scates said.
“Fourteen players was the most I’ve ever
played.”
The contribution by everyone on the team allowed the Bruins to
overcome the outstanding performance of the Matador middle blocker
Brian Waite, who hit .460 in the match.
“Northridge really stopped our attack and beat us pretty
well in some one-sided games, but we were able to pull out in the
end,” Scates said.
UCLA returns to Pauley Pavilion for four consecutive home games,
beginning with a match against NAIA champion Cal Baptist on
Wednesday.