With only four games left in the regular season, the UCLA
men’s volleyball team still doesn’t have a set lineup.
When the Bruins match up against Cal State Northridge on Wednesday,
not even UCLA coach Al Scates knows who will be playing yet.
“What’s good about our team is that I don’t know
from night to night who is going to be exceptional, but somebody is
every time we play,” Scates said. “Different players
always step up and do different things well on a different
night.” Instead of a weakness, the Bruins believe the
continual lineup changes showcase the depth of the team.
“UCLA volleyball is all about having many players who can
perform well,” senior Jonathan Acosta said. “There are
so many talented players, and that raises the level of play when
everyone knows that there are players who can fill in for any
position.” With the addition of redshirt sophomore Matt
McKinney and probable return of senior Brennan Prahler, sidelined
for three weeks with a sprained ankle, the Bruins (22-3, 15-3
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) will be even deeper than normal
when they face the Matadors (15-11, 8-10), who recently swept No. 4
BYU. “McKinney’s position will be determined by where
we need him, and I expect to start him somewhere on
Wednesday,” Scates said. “We have more options with
McKinney, and we are a much stronger team. “We hope to get
Prahler back because he was our hot hitter when he went out against
George Mason. We’re hoping to get him back because he gives
us more options.”
UP IN THE AIR: For Wednesday’s game, the starting setter
position is still up for grabs, as either junior Dennis Gonzalez or
redshirt freshman Gaby Acevedo could get the start. “I have
no idea who will be starting; we still have two more
practices,” Scates said. “Gaby played very well this
weekend. He’s ready to play, and there’s really not
that much difference between the two guys. I feel good with either
one. It just depends on who’s playing well. Dennis sometimes
doesn’t recognize who the top hitters are at the
time.”
FINISH LINE IN SIGHT: As conference play reaches its final
stretch and the MPSF playoffs approach, there is little the Bruins
believes they need to improve upon to be successful in the
postseason. “There is nothing really that we need to
specifically work on as a team,” Scates said. “We can
improve upon the individual techniques of each player, and that
makes the team better.” Although the team has no apparent
weaknesses, the Bruins must still focus on closing out the season,
as they are in the thick of the race for securing home court
advantage throughout the playoffs. “We need to remember that
every team we will play is good and take no teams lightly,”
Acosta said. “We need to do everything possible to take care
of our side of the net, which will allow us to win.”