Things are a little different for the UCLA men’s volleyball team this season.
Coach Al Scates, in his 48th year at the head of the Bruins’ program, has a good idea of his starting lineup, just days before the start of the regular season.
Scates can attribute the preseason stability of his starting seven to a 14-day trip to Argentina in September 2009. Last July, Scates said his team usually enjoys fair amounts of success the season following the international trips.
Last time the Bruins played abroad in the offseason? Fall 2005.
The result?
The 2006 National Championship.
Scates was able to test out different players at different positions, resulting in some offseason changes.
“I’ve already gone through all that phase,” said Scates of experimenting with new positions. “We’re ready for the season right now.”
“Everyone is getting a little tired, but I’m hoping with the season coming up, we’ll get a little excited,” senior captain Garrett Muagututia said.
Things are a little different for the UCLA men’s volleyball team this season.
Coach Al Scates, in his 48th year at the head of the Bruins’ program, has a good idea of his starting lineup, just days before the start of the regular season.
Scates can attribute the preseason stability of his starting seven to a 14-day trip to Argentina in September 2009. Last July, Scates said his team usually enjoys fair amounts of success the season following the international trips.
Last time the Bruins played abroad in the offseason? Fall 2005.
The result?
The 2006 National Championship.
Scates was able to test out different players at different positions, resulting in some offseason changes.
“I’ve already gone through all that phase,” said Scates of experimenting with new positions. “We’re ready for the season right now.”
“Everyone is getting a little tired, but I’m hoping with the season coming up, we’ll get a little excited,” senior captain Garrett Muagututia said.
Outside Hitters/Opposites
Muagututia is still the Bruins’ go-to outside hitter. Pegged as the team captain by Scates, Muagututia said at Monday’s practice that he is “willing to do anything … on the court or off the court” to help the Bruins win.
Along with Muagututia, redshirt junior Dylan Bowermaster, who sat out last season with injuries and did not travel with the Bruins to Argentina, will be starting at outside. Scates said redshirt sophomore Jeremy Casebeer will see considerable playing time.
At opposite, redshirt sophomore Jack Polales will remain the starter, while newcomer Jonathan Bridgeman will be second on the depth chart.
Liberos
In what will likely be a position of stability for the Bruins this season, junior Tom Hastings remains the team’s primary libero.
Last season, Hastings sat out all of winter quarter due to academic ineligibility, and the Bruins scrambled to find a replacement. They eventually settled with then-freshman Jamey Ker, whose older brother Tony held the starting libero position for four seasons.
As Scates said, however, Hastings learned his lesson and can be relied on to start all season long.
Setters
Sophomore Kyle Caldwell, who came to the Bruins last season as an opposite, switched over to setter during the offseason and has shown immediate results for Scates. Senior Kevin Ker, who split time at setter the past two seasons with former Bruin Matt Wade, will play when Caldwell is in the left front spot and come in as a serving sub, Scates said.
At 6 feet 8 inches, Caldwell is an unusually tall setter. He can block and hit from that position, providing a diverse array of talents. Along with redshirt sophomore Alex Scattareggia, who will see some time this season, all of the Bruins’ setters, Scates said, are skilled servers.
Quick Hitters
Easily the Bruins’ deepest position this season, Scates said he will likely be playing four quick hitters. His starters, sophomores Nick Vogel and Thomas Amberg, both spent the summer playing with the junior men’s National Team and started a considerable number of matches last season.
Scates tried Amberg at opposite during the offseason but returned him to quick hitter due to his dominant blocking abilities.
Coming off the bench for the Bruins will be redshirt senior Brett Perine and redshirt sophomore Weston Dunlap, who is coming off a season-long stress fracture.