No. 6 Long Beach State (8-5, 7-3 MPSF) outhit, out-blocked and out-served No. 9 UCLA (7-9, 4-6) last night in Pauley Pavilion, too quickly sweeping away the Bruins, 30-24, 30-25, 31-29.
But in the end, there was no statistical category to which someone could specifically point to account for the Bruins’ loss to the 49ers. Instead, UCLA’s loss came due to a lack of intensity early in the match, explained redshirt junior outside hitter Jeff Woodley, who played his first match since having shoulder surgery in the fall.
“We got off to a real slow start,” Woodley said. “If we would have taken that first (set), all things would have changed.”
The loss is only the second one at home for the Bruins this season after winning five straight matches in Westwood, including three sweeps.
The Bruins made only 12 kills and nine hitting errors in the first set. They also recorded eight service errors and no aces.
But most notably missing for the Bruins in the first set was on-court intensity. Long Beach players were simply louder than the Bruins.
“We were too quiet; we weren’t assertive that first (set),” coach Al Scates said. “We weren’t calling out our hitters, our routes.”
In the second set, Scates brought in redshirt freshman setter Alex Scattareggia and freshman quick hitter Nick Vogel, two players known for their energy and motivation.
“I think (they) got us going a little bit,” Scates said.
Another missing link for the Bruins was a lack of recent play in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins last home match was Feb. 6, and they have not had a chance to play or practice in Pauley since then.
“We were playing great at home, but we were gone for quite a while,” Scates said. “It was like starting over, that first (set).”
Scates said some players, such as senior outside hitter Sean O’Malley who struggled last night with a .050 hitting percentage, were playing like they were on the road.
“We just lacked firepower,” Scates said.
After squeaking out a .097 hitting average in the first set, the Bruins picked up their hitting in the second set, firing out a .367 clip, but they could not catch the 49ers, who slammed 17 kills with only three errors for a .452 clip.
The third set went down to the wire, but the Bruins gave up their first set point of the match and eventually lost on a high dig that was stopped by the large scoreboard that hangs over the center court at Pauley. The focus for the future remained on the Bruins’ inability to build momentum early.
“I think next match we really need to focus on just bringing it from the very beginning,” Woodley said.