Last year, the men’s volleyball team lost seven seniors
and won the national title. This year, the volleyball team loses
five seniors. Suffice it to say that they are not worried.
“We’ve lost a lot but not nearly as much as last
year,” coach Al Scates said. “We’re in better
shape for 2007 than we were this year. The class coming in is
stronger, too. “
Whereas the 2006 lineup ushered in starters who had previously
seen little or no court time, the upcoming season’s team will
have a significantly more experienced group of returnees, including
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Steve Klosterman,
Volleyball Magazine national Defensive Player of the Year Tony Ker,
and leftside stronghold Paul George, as well as Matt Wade, Sean
O’Malley and Jamie Diefenbach, who all saw significant
playing time in the 2006 season.
Joining the seasoned veterans is a highly touted incoming
freshman class, with whom Scates is very pleased.
“I’m really happy with the depth (of) this group
that we’ve recruited this year,” said Scates, who is
currently in Minnesota watching the recruits compete in the Junior
Olympics.
Four new names that Bruin fans may be hearing a lot about in the
near future are Teddy Goetz, Kevin Ker, Kent Kraushaar and Garrett
Muagututia. All four were named first-team All-Americans by
Volleyball Magazine.
Goetz, a 6-foot-5 middle blocker, has a good chance of winning
one of the spots vacated by departed senior middle blockers Nick
Scheftic and David Russell.
“He looks like a Chris Peña: gets up quick, not real
big, but good skills,” said Scates, making the comparison to
the highly explosive UCLA letterman.
Ker, brother of junior libero Tony Ker and Goetz’s
teammate at Valencia High School, will be challenging Wade for the
starting job as setter.
“I was very pleased watching (Kevin) play,” Scates
said. “He’s pretty far along; he could come in and set
for us right now. If he can beat out Matt Wade we can play him
right away. If not, we’ll redshirt him.”
Yet another familiar name will be joining the squad next year,
as Kent Kraushaar, younger brother of former UCLA player and
assistant coach Kris Kraushaar, will be looking to compete for a
starting role as well. Like his older brother, Kent is a
well-rounded player who can add stability to the Bruins’
defense while providing an offensive threat.
“Kent looks a little further along now in high school than
Kris did,” Scates said. “Kent figures to be fighting
for a spot right off the bat. He’s big, he can block, he can
jump, he’s the total package.”
Muagututia, who is able to play many positions, will be an
offensive threat and a solid passer.
“(It’s) apparent that he can play everywhere,”
Scates said. “On his club team he plays opposite. He’ll
probably play middle for us ““ we need middles because we
graduated two. He has a good chance to compete for a starting
position in the middle.”
Rounding out the 2006 signees are Dylan Bowermaster, James
Scilacci, Brett Cossairt, Jordan Walker and Sam Kridl.
Kris Kraushaar, who filled in as the second assistant coach for
Mike Sealy in March, has vacated the position. Kraushaar is
training and will be trying out next month for the U.S. National
Team, which has recently moved to Anaheim from Colorado
Springs.
“That’s always been his plan (to play
professionally),” Scates said. “He was just an intern
coach for Sealy.”
As his replacement, former Bruin J.T. Wenger has been hired as a
full-time assistant coach and is already performing his duties as
the team’s academic coordinator.
“He’s contacting athletes today as we speak, what
they need to do to be an outstanding student at UCLA,” Scates
said. “He was an outstanding student himself.”
As the season draws nearer, Wenger will also be scouting teams
more heavily and running the second court practices.
“It’s an exciting opportunity (to be back in the
UCLA program),” Wenger said.