If the UCLA women’s volleyball team seems unfamiliar, there’s a reason why. Twelve games into the 2013-2014 season, only three players – senior outside hitter Kelly Reeves, senior middle blocker Mariana Aquino and junior middle blocker Zoe Nightingale – have started all 12 games for the Bruins, while junior outside hitter Karsta Lowe has started 11.
In all, 11 different players have started for the Bruins and 18 players have seen playing time. However, the Bruins consider the myriad of lineups more of an advantage than a hindrance.
“It’s a great thing that we have different lineups because we can trust in a lot of people from the bench, which is amazing,” Aquino said. “It’s a blessing that we do have many, many options to start a game. … It’s a good thing that we are able to use a lot of pieces from our team on the court.”
Of the 19 players on UCLA’s roster, 11 of them are underclassmen. Six of those are freshmen, who have made a combined 37 match appearances and 12 starts. Despite the relative inexperience of the team, sophomore Karly Drolson feels the Bruins are comfortable with one another on the court.
“I think (team chemistry) is good right now. It might be a little stressful for younger players – we are all still kind of young so we’re still learning,” Drolson said. “The good thing about our team is that we have so many all-around good players, so if someone is feeling a little off we have players ready to go in.”
After a 9-1 start, the young UCLA team now finds itself in a rut. Having dropped two games in a row, freshman setter Jordan Robbins believes the key to capturing the Bruins’ first victory since Sept. 18 is learning how to finish.
“If we keep playing as a team and if we just push at the end (we can turn it around) because we are right there,” said Robbins, who has started half of the Bruins’ games. “All the scores have been back and forth, back and forth. We are right there at the end, it’s just a matter of playing with a sense of urgency.”