The last time the UCLA men’s volleyball team started the
season off this well, it won a national championship.
That was five years ago, when the Bruins won their first 10
games. Since then, UCLA has often struggled against the best teams
in the country.
That hasn’t been a problem this year.
Already having beaten three of the country’s top-six
volleyball teams, the Bruins (6-0, 3-0 MPSF) intend to continue
their undefeated season when they match up against USC tonight in
the annual Kilgour Cup.
“We have the best team we’ve had in years,”
UCLA coach Al Scates said. “We’re solid. There is no
weakness in the starting lineup.”
With the seniors fulfilling their roles as leaders, the rest of
the team has followed their example. Led by senior Paul Johnson,
who is hitting .513, the Bruins are averaging a hitting percentage
of .368, their highest in years.
“(Senior Jonathan) Acosta has been brilliant, and provides
great leadership,” Scates said. “Johnson has improved
significantly. (Senior Kris) Kraushaar is hitting well and (senior
Allan) Vince is serving for big numbers. I really can’t
single out any one player, because everyone is playing so
well.”
“There is always somebody pushing you to play better,
because if you don’t have a good couple of days, you’ll
be on the second team,” Kraushaar said.
Coming off wins over No. 3 Pepperdine and Cal Baptist, who
defeated NCAA Champion BYU last week, the Bruins feel they are more
than ready to face the Trojans.
Yet five years ago, it was USC who finally put a blemish on
UCLA’s undefeated record in the Kilgour Cup, and the Trojans
are hoping to do it again this year.
“USC has the fastest offense in the league,” Scates
said. “They have very low and quick sets and are a good
digging team. They also have the best server in the league. They
are starting to recruit internationally and are on their way
up.”
While the Bruins have thoroughly scouted their opponent, their
main motivation for winning this game goes well beyond the
volleyball court.
“The game is against USC and is at home, so we definitely
don’t want to lose,” Kraushaar said. “We also
want to stay undefeated and play well for Kirk.”
The Kilgour Cup is held every year in memory of Kirk Kilgour,
who was the MVP on UCLA’s 1971 national championship
team.
When Kilgour became a quadriplegic while practicing with the
Italian National Team, he stayed involved in the volleyball world
and influenced many disabled people. In his tradition of helping
others, all proceeds from the game go to a disabled student on
campus.
“The Kilgour Cup is a memorial to a great volleyball
player,” Vince said. “We want to fight hard in the game
to preserve his memory as a great fighter. If we play like we did
against Pepperdine and don’t take USC lightly, we should be
able to win in his memory.”