They’ve maneuvered around a number of treacherous turns,
only to have the most challenging stretch still looming around the
corner.
Since a mediocre start to the season, the UCLA men’s
volleyball team has been fighting for its postseason life. With
UCLA’s two wins last weekend and with losses from its
crosstown rival USC, the Bruins can now finish no lower than eighth
in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, thus securing a league
playoff berth.
“We’re definitely in the playoffs now, which is a
relief,” UCLA coach Al Scates said.
Though their season-long goal to reach the playoffs has been
achieved, the Bruins in no way feel the pressure is off. When No. 7
UCLA (18-12, 10-10 MPSF) takes on No. 8 UCSB (13-13, 9-11) tonight
at Robertson Gymnasium, the Bruins will be focused on locking up
home-court advantage for next week’s MPSF tournament
play-in.
“It’s one of the only things we can secure in our
season right now, and I think that we need to do it and we will do
it,” redshirt senior outside hitter Damien Scott said.
“At this point we can definitely go into this match with
something more to focus on,” redshirt senior quick hitter
Nick Scheftic said. “We’re directed on UCSB and not
just any team.”
The Gauchos, who are currently in eighth place, would need to
beat UCLA and then either beat No. 1 UC Irvine or hope for a UCLA
loss to Northridge on Friday in order to have a shot at hosting the
play-in match.
For the Bruins, home-court advantage requires just one win over
Santa Barbara tonight, even if they lose to Northridge Friday.
And the Bruins want as much of an edge as they can get in the
playoffs, making tonight’s match all the more important.
“(Home-court advantage) is pretty significant,”
Scates said. “Throughout the year, we’ve played better
at home.”
“I think it would be great to play here again for the last
time,” Scott said. “I think it would help us a lot if
we could get a bigger crowd.”
UCLA will be taking no chances when it faces a recently revamped
UCSB lineup. The Gauchos’ All-American opposite Evan Patak
may or may not be suiting up, as the athletic department is still
uncertain of his academic eligibility as of Monday. Patak has not
played in the last two matches due to insufficient units from the
last academic quarter, UCSB Sports Information Director Jeff Bowers
said.
“This guy is leading the league in kills and aces, yet
without him, they beat ‘SC 3-0,” Scates said.
“The kills were distributed among everybody and they’ve
become unpredictable. So we have to have two game plans; one for
Patak in, one for Patak out. We’ll be ready for them with or
without him.”
“We played them in the fall when he was playing and we did
just as good,” Scott said. “So it doesn’t matter
who’s out there on the court.”