Jack Polales has a big role on the men’s volleyball team.
The redshirt sophomore opposite has been steadily improving his digging, one of his biggest weaknesses, this season. And with UCLA facing a powerful blocking team in Pepperdine tonight, digging will certainly be a big focus.
Pepperdine is fourth in the nation and second in the MPSF in blocks per set with 3.17. UCLA averages just 2.7.
Coach Al Scates noted that Polales’s improved digging ““ he is second on the team with 124 total digs ““ has made him a more well-rounded volleyball player, and “now, he’s running the game.”
That type of in-game leadership will be important for No. 7 UCLA (14-9, 9-7 MPSF) tonight at No. 2 Pepperdine (13-6, 11-5) as the Bruins look to avenge their early-season loss to the Waves.
And the Bruins’ improved digging has allowed them to grow, especially against teams, such as Pepperdine, with a powerful front line.
“Guys that couldn’t dig at all, like Jack Polales, at the beginning of the year had 16 digs (against UC Irvine),” Scates said. “All of sudden we’re coming up.”
Digging will certainly help the Bruins against Pepperdine’s powerful block as will improving serving, sophomore quick hitter Thomas Amberg added.
“If we serve normally we’ll get them in passing trouble,” Scates said. “Their middles are very good but if they don’t pass well they won’t get a chance to get the ball to their middles.”
UCLA has had issues with serving all season but Scates has said he is more concerned with serving hard than serving in. The Bruins lead the conference with 1.65 aces per set.
Scates added that Pepperdine has improved as well since their last meeting nearly three months ago.
“They have the best outside hitter in the country in Cory Riecks,” Scates said. “He’s really good and he wasn’t even on the team when they beat us in Pauley Pavilion.”
Riecks missed Pepperdine’s Jan. 15 sweep of UCLA but is slated to start tonight. The 6-foot-8-inch outside hitter is second on the team with 4.05 kills per set.
UCLA opened its road trip with a five-set win over UC Irvine. Winning five in a row on the road will be important for the Bruins down the road because a path to the National Championship will almost certainly require that UCLA compete entirely on the road.
Currently sixth in the conference standings, UCLA is a pair of games outside the top four which is where they will have to land to host a first-round MPSF Tournament match. The following two rounds of the conference tournament are hosted by the top seed, and the next step, the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship, is hosted by Stanford.
Road venues have actually been friendlier grounds for UCLA this season. The Bruins are 6-1 away from Westwood, but freshman opposite Jonathan Bridgeman said they need to focus on working hard in practice and continuing to be “road warriors.”
“It’s a good momentum change for us to win these next couple games and get Coach Scates his 1200th win,” Amberg added.
If that win were to come tonight at Pepperdine, it would be especially sweet for Scates, who won his 1000th game at the same venue.
Bowermaster ready, Casebeer out
Redshirt junior outside hitter Dylan Bowermaster is the likely starter at the second outside hitter position while redshirt junior Jeremy Casebeer is out with a sprained ankle.
With reports by Vidur Malik, Bruin Sports contributor.