Beginning the night at eighth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and only a half-game ahead of ninth-place UC San Diego, the UCLA men’s volleyball team sorely needed a win against Cal State Northridge Wednesday night.
It seemed hardly possible coming into the Matadome, where the Matadors have gone undefeated this season.
Led by redshirt freshman opposite Jack Polales, the No. 11 Bruins (8-12, 4-9) fell to the No. 1 Matadors (16-2, 12-2) 30-20, 26-30, 30-28, 30-28.
“Polales carried us,” coach Al Scates said. “We just didn’t shut down their offense.”
The Matadors were led by senior outside hitter Eric Vance, who was hitting .528 with 23 kills.
“He hit really well and we just had a hard time shutting him down,” Scates said.
Vance’s potent offense was complemented by his teammates, opposite Tanner Nua and outside hitter Mike Gaudino, who combined for 30 kills.
Notably playing well was junior outside hitter Garrett Muagututia, who played in only his second match since spraining his ankle Feb. 13.
Muagututia, whose ankle is still swollen, had only 18 swings, yet made 12 kills and recorded a .500 clip to go along with two service aces.
“We gave (Muagututia) a limited amount of swings,” Scates said. “He couldn’t take off every time like he wanted to, but he hit smart.
“We’ll soon be able to give him 30, 40 sets a game.”
The story for both teams, though, was momentum.
After a weak first set characteristic of the Bruins’ lethargic play much of the season, the Matadors and Bruins exchanged runs over the course of the next three sets.
Junior setter Kevin Ker came in late in the first set and the Bruin hitting began to improve. In the final three sets, the Matadors barely outhit the Bruins .376 to .341 but the real momentum changer was the serving.
The Matadors made 34 service errors, but it was one by the Bruins that cost them the match.
Leading 29-27 in the fourth set and with a chance to take the match, Northridge’s Nua made his eighth service error, to give UCLA freshman quick hitter Thomas Amberg a chance to take the set for the Bruins.
After an Amberg ace and a Northridge timeout, Amberg committed his only service error of the night to hand the match back to the Matadors.
Despite chalking up another loss, Scates believes the Bruins made a good showing late in the match.
“I think they are beginning to realize they can be good,” Scates said. “I think we are starting to believe in ourselves.”
Polales, normally a quiet but solid hitter for the Bruins, began heating up late against Northridge. Leading the Bruins with 17 kills on 31 swings, Polales also made three digs in the final set, a rare showing of strong back-row defense from the opposite position.
“We’re real happy with his progress,” Scates said.
NORTHRIDGE FANS CAUSING RUCKUS: Part of the reason for CSUN’s undefeated home record has been a very vocal Matador student section.
“They have some people who come and yell and scream at you,” Scates said. “They are very close to the court and it’s a good place for them to play.”
Midway through the fourth set, some Northridge fans came down from the stands to the press row. The event director had the fans return to the stands.
AROUND THE MPSF: With just five weeks of conference play remaining, teams contend for the eight spots in the MPSF tournament. The winner of the tournament goes on to the NCAA Final Four.
Tonight’s loss puts the Bruins in a tie for eighth in the conference with UC San Diego, while the Matadors gain some breathing room with a half-game lead for first in the conference.
Pepperdine and UC Irvine remain tied for second in the conference. UC Irvine will visit the Matadors tomorrow in its most important match of the season so far.
USC remains off this week and holds its position at fourth in the conference, while sixth-place Stanford, also off this week, is streaking to the top, maintaining a six-match winning streak.
Brigham Young, still fifth in the conference, will face off with East Coast powerhouse Penn State tomorrow night in Long Beach.
Friday night will make for a major fight at the bottom of the conference as the Bruins will visit 11th-place UC Santa Barbara and UCSD will host 10th-place Hawai’i.
BRUINS TO VISIT GAUCHOS: The Bruins hope to carry the momentum from last night to UCSB tomorrow, where they will face the No. 13 Gauchos.
The Bruins swept the Gauchos in Pauley Pavilion earlier this season.
Friday’s match will be the Bruins’ final match before they take a week off for final exams and another week off for spring break.
The Gauchos have struggled much of this season at home, posting a 2-5 recording in conference matches. The Bruins, however, have yet to post a conference road win.