It was a bittersweet weekend for the UCLA women’s volleyball team. After sweeping Washington State on Friday night, the No. 10 Bruins fell to No. 5 Washington on Senior Night on Saturday.
With the Pac-10 season approaching its end, the Bruins earned a much-needed win over the Cougars. Thanks to a good night of blocking and junior opposite hitter Kaitlin Sather’s game-high 17 kills, UCLA beat Washington State 31-29, 30-21, 30-17. After a close first game, the Bruins went on an 8-0 run to easily end the second game 30-21 and continued to use its drive to win the third and final game 30-17.
While Friday night ended in the Bruins’ favor, the Washington Huskies proved to be too much for them on Saturday. Lead by senior middle blocker Alesha Deesing’s .667 hitting percentage and senior outside hitter Christal Morrison’s 14 kills, the Huskies defeated the Bruins 30-20, 31-29, 30-27.
After falling behind by nine points at 18-9 in the second game, senior middle blocker Rachell Johnson and junior setter Nellie Spicer double-blocked the ball twice to start a UCLA 12-3 scoring run. With a Sather block, the Bruins evened the game at 21-21. The score remained close with five more lead changes, but Washington came out on top 31-29.
In Game 3, Washington never fell behind. The Bruins did go on a killing spree, with two Johnson kills and one each from Sather and junior Ali Daley, to tie the game at 26-26. However, the Huskies won the match to remain one of the top teams in the Pac-10.
“They are a very physical team,” UCLA coach Andy Banachowski said. “They block extremely well. They all know their roles out there on the court and they are very good with their execution.”
During the weekend series, UCLA continued to use junior Jessica Fine in the libero position. She finished with 18 digs against Washington State and 15 digs against Washington. According to the team, the transition of the libero position from junior Jade Machado to Fine has been smooth, especially since Machado still comes in to help the Bruins defensively.
“I think she is taking to it very well,” Banachowski said of Fine’s playing. “It allows her to get a good feel for the match. Jade has been coming in and giving us a lift with some digs and good serving. They have both been working hard.”
Before Saturday’s match began, UCLA honored senior middle blockers Johnson Meghan Schoen and in the last home game of their careers.
Schoen joined the Bruins in 2005 as a transfer from Michigan State. After suffering an ACL injury in 2005, she rebounded and played in 13 games in the 2006 season.
“I look to Meghan for encouragement, I know she is always there,” Daley said of her teammate. “Whether she knows it or not, she is very important to our team.”
After singing the national anthem for her last time as a Bruin at home, Johnson said the realization that her college career is coming to an end feels strange.
“I’ve seen girls do it for the past four years, and it’s so weird to be the one leaving,” Johnson said. “But, it’s helped to focus me in these past couple of weeks, just trying to give it my all.”