UCLA outserves Berkeley, prepares for tournament

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Tuesday, November 24, 1998

UCLA outserves Berkeley, prepares for tournament

VOLLEYBALL: Bruins fall to Stanford but gain consideration for
NCAAs with win over Cal

By Nick Taylor

Daily Bruin Contributor

The No. 16 ranked UCLA women’s volleyball team (14-11, 13-5
Pac-10) defeated Cal in four games on Sunday, 15-4, 8-15, 15-4,
15-4. The bigger story, however, was a tough five game loss to No.
4 Stanford on Friday (10-15, 15-7, 5-15, 15-10, 10-15).

"We had our opportunities in the fifth game," said head coach
Andy Banachowski.

UCLA fell behind in the fifth game due to a couple of disputed
calls, and they could never overcome the cushion Stanford
built.

UCLA had the momentum in their corner from an emotional fourth
game, where they eluded defeat behind the clutch play of Bowles and
Kristee Porter. Bowles, who was named Pac-10 player of the week
after her career high of 35 kills against Washington, added 23
kills and 12 digs against Stanford. Her aggressive attitude nearly
made the difference.

"If I see a hole in the defense," Bowles said, "I go for (the
kill)."

But Bowles, Porter (35 kills in 81 attempts) and Elisabeth
Bachman (16 kills) were not enough to bring UCLA back in the
deciding fifth game. Stanford’s experience and reputation were the
difference as they forced UCLA to come apart when it mattered
most.

"Other teams get tense against us in fifth games," said
Stanford’s Kerri Walsh. "We expect to win in fifth games."

Walsh carried Stanford throughout the match with 25 kills and 12
digs.

"I did feel like I needed to carry a load (because) the Bruins
impressed me tonight," Walsh said.

UCLA overcame a tough first game loss to storm back into the
match.

Behind eight of Porter’s 35 kills, the Bruins re-established
momentum and were poised to extend their winning streak. But
Stanford took the third game behind a suffocating defense, forcing
37 UCLA errors in the match. UCLA hit .091 for the game, and relied
much too heavily on Porter and Bowles to carry the load.

"Stanford is a great blocking team," Bowles said. "That was the
difference."

UCLA had its moments in the match, as they came back from 1-0
and 2-1 deficits.

"That’s a real good sign of what we’re capable of," Banachowksi
said.

"Momentum is basically mental," Porter added. "If we stay
excited, we keep the momentum. But if we get down on ourselves,
then we lose that."

Cal still remained on Sunday, however, and the Bruins could not
afford to lose sight of their goal: a 14th win, which would ensure
a .500 record and NCAA tournament consideration. They achieved it
with a four game victory over Cal on Sunday, despite not playing up
to their ability, in their coach’s eyes.

"We played well enough to win," Banachowski said, but added, "I
was hoping for a better performance."

While the Bruins are happy to have likely made the tournament
(NCAA seedings will not be announced until next Sunday), the Bruins
must make some changes if they hope to advance once they are
there.

UCLA has one more match remaining on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against
Pepperdine in Pauley Pavilion.