The No. 19 UCLA women’s volleyball team will host its first home game Wednesday night, facing off against No. 10 Oregon at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. While the two Pac-12 teams meet every year, the Bruins are hoping that the highly anticipated change of lineup and scenery will finally lend them the upper hand.
The challenge
Wednesday marks the three-year anniversary of the last time the Bruins (12-5, 3-3 Pac-12) emerged victorious from a meeting with their all-too-familiar foe. The following two seasons, the Ducks (14-2, 4-2) served up 3-0 and 3-1 losses respectively.
These two previous losses were both preceded by losses to other teams. Coming off a 3-1 loss to Colorado this season, UCLA must refocus and move forward – all while adjusting to a new gym – if it hopes to break its losing streak.
“We’re just really pumped to bounce back from the Colorado game,” said sophomore defensive specialist/libero Taylor Formico. “Hopefully we’ll play great. I think the focus needs to be on our progress.”
The strategy
While some, like junior defensive specialist/libero Karly Drolson, played with the Bruins through both the highs and lows of their past three seasons against Oregon, both teams bring to the table a host of new freshman players. The Bruins said they hope that their young team could be the secret to breaking the Ducks’ momentum.
Heading into this season, UCLA also has a new secret weapon that it’s never had before: more time devoted to practice. Because UCLA started its academic year later than previous years, the team had more time to focus on practice. While players at other schools were worrying about buying books and studying after games, the Bruins had an additional week to focus on nothing but their game.
“We’re lucky because we just started school,” Drolson said. “It’s nice right now that we don’t have as much on our plate, where maybe the other teams have more stress on them with midterms and stuff like that.”
With new players, new home courts and the mindset of a “new team,” the Bruins said they hope to start their series against the Pac-12 Oregon teams with a win before heading back to Crossroads School on Friday to play Oregon State.
“It’s a new team,” said senior setter Julie Consani, “And we are ready to play them.”