Matches between the UCLA and Hawai’i men’s volleyball teams have always been known to be epic. In January, the two teams went at it for five sets in the Outrigger Invitational.
This weekend brought more of the same.
With libero Tony Ker out with a hamstring injury, the Bruins were at a disadvantage. The result was another all-out battle between the No. 4 Bruins and the No. 15 Warriors on Thursday night. Unlike in January, the Warriors came out on top, winning 30-25, 26-30, 24-30, 30-26, 13-15.
Despite out-hitting Hawai’i 0.219 to 0.209 on the night, the Bruins fell to ““0.074 in game five, while the Warriors managed to salvage a -0.053 hitting percentage.
But the next night, UCLA was able to pull itself together. The Bruins bounced back from the grueling loss the previous night to sweep the Warriors on Friday, 30-28, 30-24, 30-26.
“Passing was so good (Friday) night that (setter) Matt Wade could do whatever he wanted to,” coach Al Scates said. “(The hitters) were getting sets right where they wanted.”
Quick hitters Jamie Diefenbach and D.J. Stromath benefited the most from this improved passing. Diefenbach went 11-for-15, hitting 0.733 and leading the team to a 0.308 clip. Stromath led the Bruins with 12 kills.
“The middles went off (Friday) for us,” Scates said. “Diefenbach had the best match of the year.”
But perhaps the feature of the weekend’s matches was the play of the newcomers.
“We took three freshmen that we were going to redshirt this year on this trip, and we used them all,” Scates said.
Filling in at libero for Ker was Thomas Hastings. It was Hastings’ first collegiate action and his first time suiting up. The freshman picked up 10 digs in each of the two matches. Scates also brought along opposite Darwin Edwards and outside hitter Ryal Jagd.
“We moved (Edwards) to opposite and brought him along to see how he’d do,” Scates said. “He served out the game for the win.”
Jagd chipped in 10 kills and hit 0.286.
INJURY UPDATE: Libero Tony Ker, who injured his hamstring against the Waves on Jan. 25, did not make the trip and will sit out practice until trainer Dale Rudd approves.
“We’re going to reevaluate him on Monday,” Scates said. “He feels fine when he’s walking around, but hamstring injuries reoccur if athletes move quickly.”